Numerical analysis of energy dissipation due to eddy currents in a vibrating beam

Abstract

Vibration attenuation is a key aspect of mechanical engineering. One method to achieve this is through eddy currents, which can be generated in a vibrating system when a magnetic field is present, creating forces that oppose motion. This study examines a mechanical system consisting of a thin cantilever beam vibrating in a uniform and time-invariant magnetic field under steady-state conditions to understand the nature of energy dissipation and the relationship between motion, eddy currents, and damping forces. The calculation of eddy currents generally requires the use of complex numerical procedures. However, for systems with simple geometry, such as a cantilever beam, a recent numerical procedure based on the finite difference method, known for its simplicity in implementation, has been adapted and expanded to determine eddy currents under motional induction. A numerical application has been developed in which the vibration of a specific beam is characterised by its bending or torsional mode shapes, and the nature of the corresponding dissipative forces is analysed. Results indicate that the eddy currents are an effective means of dissipating energy at lower-order modes. Additionally, the direction of the applied magnetic field can induce coupling between bending and torsional vibrations.