Analysis of Iterative Solvers used for Computing a 3D FEM Hybrid Stepper Model

The paper presents an analysis of different iterative solvers used for computing large and very large linear and nonlinear matrix systems. The solvers compared were used to solve the Finite Element Method (MEF) 3D models of a steady magnetic field distribution in a hybrid bi-phase stepper motor. The modeling was done using the professional software COMSOL Multiphysics. The convergence, the computational time, and the preconditioning method influence on the iterative solvers were analyzed using four different discretization meshes. Both the linear and the non-linear models (due to constitutive magnetic nonlinearity) were studied.