Characterisation of radial vibration force and vibration behaviour of a PWM-fed fractional-slot induction machine

Abstract : This paper presents the full analysis of the vibration behaviour responsible for audible magnetic noise in a PWM-fed fractional-slot induction machine, including theoretical predictions, numerical simulations, and experimental validations (stator modal analysis and deflection shapes visualisa-tion). Magnetic force waves due to slotting harmonics, pulse-width modulation (PWM) harmonics and their interactions are characterised in terms of nodes number, rotation speed, and propagation direction. It is shown in particular that some odd spatial order vibration waves appear due to fractional slotting, and that some combinations between slotting lines and PWM lines can be very noisy due to an elliptical mode natural frequency close from the switching frequency.