Topology Optimization of a VA Plate for SAE-Compliant Wireless Power Transfer System Using Anisotropic SMC Materials

Ferrite plates are widely employed in wireless power transfer (WPT) systems as magnetic flux concentrators but are associated with critical issues such as fragility, weight, and cost. Recent studies have explored the use of soft magnetic composites (SMCs) as an alternative to ferrite, leveraging their superior mechanical strength and machinability. However, using SMCs often results in increased volume or weight to achieve comparable performance to ferrite. This work employs topology optimization, particularly the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) approach to design a reduced-volume, optimized SMC plate for an SAE J2954-compliant vehicle assembly. Furthermore, since the selected SMC material exhibits magnetic anisotropy, this study provides valuable insights on how anisotropic material behavior influences the magnetic performance of the WPT system, particularly regarding magnetic coupling.