List of Flux 2025 new features

New features dealing with Meshing

New features Description
Abaqus Export (Flux) and Abaqus Import (SimLab)

Since several releases of Flux, the Flux teams works a lot to integrate the various applications in SimLab. The main goal of this integration are the homogenization of the easy GUI of all Altair's softwares, and the easy to use to be able to do multiphysics modeling (NVH, Thermal, Electromagnetic, Electrostatic...).

To ensure a smooth transition for Flux users to SimLab, we are working on an export of Flux projects in an Abaqus format. The resulting file can then be imported into SimLab.

We're working hard to convert as much of a Flux project as possible to a SimLab database, but there will be some limitations.

The work is in progress but the functionality is already available in Flux 2025 (export part) and SimLab 2025 (Import part) with several limitations.

New features dealing with Physics

New features Description
Computation of iron losses for ferrites and powder cores in Steady State AC magnetic applications

Ferrites and iron powders represent a successful strategy to limit losses in magnetic cores, as well as the usage of stacked laminated steel sheets. In Flux, the evaluation of iron losses for these laminated sheets can be performed in all magnetic applications in post-processing thanks to Bertotti model and in some specific cases also with LS approach.

For bulk materials, Preisach and Jiles-Atherton methods have already been available in Flux transient magnetic applications, allowing the user to model hysteresis phenomena and thus compute the iron losses through the dPowV quantity. This approach, even if very accurate, can be costly, especially in 3D simulations.

To save computation time and memory resources, starting from 2025 version, for ferrites and powder cores Flux also features a post-processing iron loss model which applies on magnetic non-conducting regions with non-hysteretic B(H) materials in Steady-State AC magnetic applications (excluding 2D-axisymmetric domains).

New features dealing with Solving

New features Description
Enhanced version for 3D transient initialization by FTS file
In Flux 3D Transient Magnetic projects containing solid conductor regions and/or non-meshed coils coupled to the circuit, the initialization of the Finite Element solution done by importing an FTS file did not include all the contributions generated by the circuit coupling. More specifically:
  • a contribution was missing for the current densities in solid conductor regions (only in case the FTS file was generated through the corresponding Steady State AC application);
  • another contribution was missing in the intensities of the magnetic fields created by non-meshed coils (whether the FTS file was generated through the corresponding Steady State AC project or through another Transient Magnetic project).

As a consequence, at the first step of the Transient analysis, some output quantities (e.g. torque, magnetic flux density) differ from the values computed through the Flux project used for generating the FTS file, thus causing a very long numerical transient before the system could reach the steady state. As an example, simulations of induction machines could require more than 30 rotor rounds to present a stable behaviour.

Flux 2025 features an enhanced version for 3D transient initialization by FTS file, which tackles both the presented drawbacks and speeds-up Transient Magnetic analysis: it has been estimated that 10 rotor rounds allows to reach the steady state when modelling large 3D induction machines, which means that their analysis is now more than three times faster.

New features dealing with Flux e-Machine Toolbox ( FEMT)

New features Description
New Graphical User Interface for Input Parameters
For improved readability, the user interface for input parameters has been modified. From FeMT 2025, input parameters have been separated into:
  • Motor tab: Parameters related to motor physics
  • System tab: Parameters related to system (memory, distribution, ...)
New Computation Mode "MS multi-positions"

A new computation mode has been added to FeMT 2025. This computation mode called MS multi-positions uses Magneto-Static computations on a motor driven by ID and IQ to obtain efficiency maps from look-up tables. It's faster than the TM mode, but is slightly less precise. It allows to compute all maps including iron losses, but not the magnet losses.

Updated/New macros

Updated / New macros
Renaming of Look Up Table Macros : see details
Find Rotor Angle (Update)

"Find_Rotor_Angle macros now also compute initial position of the motor for outer rotor motors and considers wye and delta connection in your circuit"
CreateReducedOrderModel_4_IM_Motor (New)

This macro intends to create an equivalent model of the IM motor. It will generate an *.oml file and *.mat file which can be read by Altair PSIM.

There are some pre-requisites to fulfil:

  • The circuit must have only 3 coil conductors
  • Delete all results
  • Slip is defined as (Speed_Sync-Speed_Mech)/Speed_Sync)
  • Voltage, frequency and speed must be defined as [controlled via a scenario] I/O parameter type

Updated/New examples

Description
Rotor Eccentricity Analysis (New)

The initial geometry of the IPM is imported from FluxMotor. The example carries out the analysis of an IPM motor where the rotor is eccentered from the stator. The results are magnetic forces that can be re-injected in SimLab to compute the ERP and see the effect of this eccentricity on the NVH of the motor.

Update/New "Flux in SimLab" Examples

New Tutorials are planed for SimLab 2025 release. Some Tutorials could be still in progress. The package will be available as soon as possible.

Note: Tutorials are available on the following link.
Description illustration
ES3D Insulator (Update)

The studied device is an insulator separating two conductors, one at high potential, and another one grounded. The device is in the air.

The aim is to study ionized canals propagation (Streamers propagation) with "Streamer Criterion" Load.

Tutorial package
MT3D Axial Flux Machine (Update)

This study case is devoted to the modeling and analysis of an axial flux machine with one internal rotor and two external stators. The motor geometry and meshing description are defined by using the AFM modeling tool.

Tutorial package
SCAC Busbar (New)

The device studied is a busbar. It is a copper device and the purpose is to calculate the joule losses in the geometry, and the electric current in the RL loads.

Tutorial package

MAC3D Induction Heating of a Billet (New)

The studied device is composed of a mobile billet and a supply inductor. The goal is to simulate a forced cooling process at the end of heating (when the billet is out of the coil).

Tutorial package