Whitepaper

Electromagnetic compatibility simulations in the automotive sector

Published by Beta Technologies

This white paper from BETA CAE Systems explores the challenges and tools involved in performing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) simulations for automotive applications. As vehicles increasingly rely on electronic systems for communication, automation, and navigation, the need to evaluate how these components interact electromagnetically has become critical. EM simulation models differ significantly from structural ones. Conducting paths between metallic parts must be established by closing gaps with FE elements, while electrically isolated components must remain separate. Mesh requirements also diverge — EM models need element lengths tied to a fraction of the wavelength, resulting in coarser meshes than those used in structural or CFD analyses. ANSA provides tools such as Bridge, Fill Gap, and Connect Flange to automate these model preparation tasks, and supports a common model concept that allows existing structural FE models to be reused for EM analysis. Three categories of EMC analysis are addressed: immunity (sensitivity of onboard electronics to external radiation), emissions (radiation from vehicle electronics into the environment), and electromagnetic interference or crosstalk between onboard systems. Two simulation examples using the ANSA–ASERIS-BE™–META toolchain demonstrate these concepts — an immunity test with a log-periodic antenna across 200 MHz to 1 GHz, and a crosstalk study showing that grounding strategy significantly affects the coupling between an Ethernet cable and FM antennas. The paper concludes that BETA CAE's solver-agnostic tools enable efficient, interdisciplinary EM simulation workflows by leveraging existing FE models.