Finite-Element Model for Simulation of Ferrite-Core Eddy-Current Probe

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 905 - 909
• Main Authors: Zeng, Zhiwei, Udpa, Lalita, Udpa, Satish S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.03.2010; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Coiling; Coils; Computational modeling; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Eddy current testing; Exact sciences and technology; ferrite core; Ferrites; Finite element method; Finite element methods; finite-element method (FEM); Magnetic cores; Magnetic fields; Magnetic noise; Magnetic separation; Magnetic vector potentials; Magnetism; Materials science; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Nondestructive testing; Other topics in materials science; Physics; Probes; reduced magnetic vector potential; reduced magnetic vector potential; ferrite core; Finite element method; Ferrite; Potentials; Simulation; Mathematical models; Modelling; Eddy-current testing; Eddy currents; finite-element method (FEM); Eddy current testing; Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2009.2034651

The finite-element method is widely used in modeling eddy-current phenomena. However, its application in eddy-current nondestructive testing involving probe motion requires remeshing for each coil position. Remeshing is not only cumbersome but also a major source of computational noise. We have used the reduced magnetic vector potential formulation to model an air-core probe scan without remeshing the coil in different positions. In this paper, we present a method to model the scanning of ferrite-core probe. With this method, finite-element meshes for the test sample and the ferrite core are generated separately. The coil is not meshed. The magnetic field and magnetic vector potential due to the coil are evaluated analytically. An iterative but fast procedure is used to update the total field. The method is simple, flexible, accurate, and efficient.