Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

3a

Electromagnetic Forces on Parallel

Current-Carrying Wires
Introduction
One ampere is defined as the constant current in two straight parallel conductors of
infinite length and negligible circular cross section, placed one meter apart in vacuum,
that produces a force of 2107 newton per meter of length (N/m). This model shows
a setup of two parallel wires in the spirit of this definition, but with the difference that
the wires have finite cross sections.
For wires with circular cross section carrying a uniform current density as in this
example, the mutual magnetic force will be the same as for line currents. This can be
understood by the following arguments: Start from a situation where both wires are
line currents (I). Each line current will be subject to a Lorentz force (I B) where the
magnetic flux density (B) is the one produced by the other wire. Now, give one wire
a finite radius. It follows directly from circular symmetry and Maxwell-Ampres law
that, outside this wire, the produced flux density is exactly the same as before so the
force on the remaining line current is unaltered. Further, the net force on the wire with
the distributed current density must be of exactly the same magnitude (but with
opposite direction) as the force on the line current so that force did not change either.
If the two wires exchange places, the forces must still be the same and it follows from
symmetry that the force is independent of wire radius as long as the wire cross sections
do not intersect. The wires can even be cylindrical shells or any other shape with
circular symmetry. For an experimental setup, negligible cross section is required as
resistive voltage drop along the wires and Hall effect may cause electrostatic forces that
increase with wire radius but such effects are not included in this model.
The force between the wires is computed using two different methods: first
automatically by integrating the stress tensor on the boundaries, then by integrating
the volume (Lorentz) force density over the wire cross section. The results converge
to 2107 N/m for the 1 ampere definition, as expected.

Model Definition
The model is built using the 2D Magnetic Fields interface. The modeling plane is a
cross section of the two wires and the surrounding air.

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DOMAIN EQUATIONS

The equation formulation assumes that the only nonzero component of the magnetic
vector potential is Az. This corresponds to all currents being perpendicular to the
modeling plane. The following equation is solved:
e

( A z ) = J z
e

where is the permeability of the medium and J z is the externally applied current.
e
J z is set so that the applied current in the wires equals 1 A, but with different signs.
Surrounding the air is an infinite element domain. For details, see Infinite Elements in
AC/DC Module Users Guide.

Results and Discussion

The expression for the surface stress reads
1
T
n 1 T 2 = --- ( H B )n 1 + ( n 1 H )B
2
where n1 is the boundary normal pointing out from the conductor wire and T2 the
stress tensor of air. The closed line integral of this expression around the circumference
of either wire evaluates to 1.99107 N/m. The minus sign indicates that the force
between the wires is repulsive. The software automatically provides the coordinate
components of the force on each wire.
The volume force density is given by
F = J B = Je B , Je B , 0
z
y z
x
The surface integral of the x component of the volume force on the cross section of a
wire gives the result 2.00107 N/m.
By refining the mesh and re-solving the problem, you can verify that the solution with
both method converges to 2107 (N/m). The volume force density integral will
typically be the most accurate one for reasons explained in Calculating Accurate Fluxes
in the COMSOL Multiphysics Users Guide.

Model Library path: ACDC_Module/Verification_Models/parallel_wires

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Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD

1 Go to the Model Wizard window.

2 Click the 2D button.
3 Click Next.
4 In the Add physics tree, select AC/DC>Magnetic Fields (mf).
5 Click Next.
6 Find the Studies subsection. In the tree, select Preset Studies>Stationary.
7 Click Finish.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name

Expression

Description

0.2[m]

Wire radius

I0

1[A]

Total current

J0

I0/(pi*r^2)

Current density

GEOMETRY 1

Circle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Geometry 1 and choose Circle.
2 In the Circle settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type 1.5.

Circle 2
In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Circle.

Circle 3
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Circle.
2 In the Circle settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type r.

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4 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type 0.5.

Circle 4
1 Right-click Geometry 1 and choose Circle.
2 In the Circle settings window, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type r.
4 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type -0.5.
5 Click the Build All button.

You have now drawn the wires in their surrounding air domain. The outer circle will
constitute an infinite element.to make the geometry effectively extend to infinity. For
more information, please refer to the chapter Infinite Elements in the AC/DC Module
Users Guide.
DEFINITIONS

Define an infinite element region in the outer domains.

Infinite Element Domain 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Definitions and choose Infinite
Element Domain.
2 Select Domain 1 only.

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3 In the Infinite Element Domain settings window, locate the Geometry section.
4 From the Type list, choose Cylindrical.
MATERIALS

Material Browser
1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Materials and choose Open
Material Browser.
2 In the Material Browser window, locate the Materials section.
3 In the tree, select Built-In>Air.
4 Right-click and choose Add Material to Model from the menu.

Air
By default, the first material you select will apply to your entire geometry. Air is defined
with a zero conductivity, and relative permittivity and permeability both equal to 1.
These properties are the same as those of vacuum, which is the assumed material in the
ampere definition. Since the model assumes a given uniform current distribution, it is
safe to use the same properties in the wires too.
MAGNETIC FIELDS

External Current Density 1

1 In the Model Builder window, under Model 1 right-click Magnetic Fields and choose
External Current Density.
2 Select Domain 3 only.
3 In the External Current Density settings window, locate the External Current Density

section.
4 In the Je table, enter the following settings:
0

J0

External Current Density 2

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Magnetic Fields and choose External Current
Density.
2 Select Domain 4 only.

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3 In the External Current Density settings window, locate the External Current Density

section.
4 In the Je table, enter the following settings:
0

-J0

You have now completely defined the physics of this model. Adding force evaluations
will get you access to the Maxwell's stress tensors.

Force Calculation 1
1 Right-click Magnetic Fields and choose Force Calculation.
2 Select Domain 3 only.
3 In the Force Calculation settings window, locate the Force Calculation section.
4 In the Force name edit field, type wire1.

Force Calculation 2
1 Right-click Magnetic Fields and choose Force Calculation.
2 Select Domain 4 only.
3 In the Force Calculation settings window, locate the Force Calculation section.
4 In the Force name edit field, type wire2.
STUDY 1

In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 1 and choose Compute.

RESULTS

Magnetic flux density norm

The default plot shows the norm of the magnetic flux density. Note that the value
inside the infinite element domain has no physical relevance.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Magnetic flux density norm and

choose Arrow Line.

2 In the Arrow Line settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner

of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Magnetic

Fields>Mechanical>Maxwell surface stress tensor (mf.nTx_wire1,...,mf.nTy_wire1).
3 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Select the Scale factor check box.

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4 In the associated edit field, type 300000.

5 From the Color list, choose Blue.
6 Click the Plot button.
7 Click the Zoom In button on the Graphics toolbar.
8 In the Model Builder window, right-click Magnetic flux density norm and choose Arrow
Line.
9 In the Arrow Line settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner

of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Magnetic

Fields>Mechanical>Maxwell surface stress tensor (mf.nTx_wire2,...,mf.nTy_wire2).
10 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Select the Scale factor check box.
11 In the associated edit field, type 300000.
12 From the Color list, choose Black.
13 Click the Plot button.

You are now looking at the Maxwell's stress tensor distribution on the surface of the
wires. The total force on each wired is evaluated as the surface integral of the stress
tensor, and stored in an automatically available expression.

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Derived Values
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results right-click Derived Values and choose
Global Evaluation.
2 In the Global Evaluation settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Magnetic

Fields>Mechanical>Electromagnetic force>Electromagnetic force, x component
(mf.Forcex_wire1).
3 Click the Evaluate button. The force in the x direction on the first wire will evaluate

to -1.99e-7 N/m.
4 In the Global Evaluation settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Magnetic

Fields>Mechanical>Electromagnetic force>Electromagnetic force, x component
(mf.Forcex_wire2).
5 Click the Evaluate button. As expected, the force on the second wire has a similar

value but the opposite sign.

Proceed to compare the values you just got with those from the Lorentz force
distribution.
6 In the Model Builder window, right-click Derived Values and choose
Integration>Surface Integration.
7 Select Domain 3 only.
8 In the Surface Integration settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right

corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose Magnetic

Fields>Mechanical>Lorentz force contribution>Lorentz force contribution, x
component (mf.FLtzx).
9 Click the Evaluate button. This time, the value is even closer to -2e-7 N/m. When

applicable, Lorentz force integrals usually give more accurate results than the
Maxwell's stress tensor.
10 Select Domain 4 only.
11 Click the Evaluate button. Once again, integration over the second wire gives a

similar but positive result.

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