Magnetic Circuit

Magnetic Circuits
Dr Gamal Sowilam
Magnetic Circuits
Objectives
• Become aware of the similarities between the analysis of

magnetic circuits and electric circuits.
• Develop a clear understanding of the important parameters

of a magnetic circuit and how to find each quantity for a
variety of magnetic circuit configurations.
• Begin to appreciate why a clear understanding of magnetic

circuit parameters is an important component in the design
of electrical/electronic systems.
1 INTRODUCTION
Magnetic and electromagnetic effects play an important role in
the design of a wide variety of electrical/electronic systems in
use today. Motors, generators, transformers, loudspeakers,
relays, medical equipment and movements of all kinds depend
on magnetic effects to function properly.
The response and characteristics of each have an impact on the

current and voltage levels of the system, the efficiency of the
design, the resulting size, and many other important
considerations.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of similarity between the

analyses of electric circuits and magnetic circuits. The magnetic
flux of magnetic circuits has properties very similar to the
current of electric circuits.
2 MAGNETIC FIELD
Flux lines strive to be as short as possible and take the path with
the highest permeability. The flux density is defined as follows:
The “pressure” on the system to establish magnetic lines of force

is determined by the applied magnetomotive force mmf , which
is directly related to the number of turns and current of the
magnetizing coil as appearing in the following equation:
The level of magnetic flux established in a ferromagnetic core is
a direction function of the permeability of the material.
Ferromagnetic materials have a very high level of permeability,
while nonmagnetic materials such as air and wood have very
low levels. The ratio of the permeability of the material to that of
air is called the relative permeability and is defined by the
following equation:
3 RELUCTANCE
The reluctance of a material to the setting up of magnetic flux

lines in the material is determined by the following equation:
where  is the reluctance, l is the length of the magnetic path, and A is the
cross-sectional area.
4 OHM’S LAW FOR MAGNETIC CIRCUITS
Recall the equation
For magnetic circuits, the effect desired is the flux  . The cause is the
magnetomotive force (mmf) , which is the external force (or
“pressure”) required to set up the magnetic flux lines within the
magnetic material. The opposition to the setting up of the flux  is
the reluctance .
Substituting, we have
5 MAGNETIZING FORCE
The magnetomotive force per unit length (flux intensity) is called the
magnetizing force (H). In equation form,
Substituting for the magnetomotive force results in
Note in Figure that the direction of the flux

can be determined by placing the fingers of
your right hand in the direction of current
around the core and noting the direction of
the thumb. It is interesting to realize that
the magnetizing force is independent of the
type of core material—it is determined
solely by the number of turns, the current, Defining the magnetizing
and the length of the core. force of a magnetic circuit.
The applied magnetizing force has a pronounced effect on the resulting
permeability of a magnetic material. As the magnetizing force increases, the
permeability rises to a maximum and then drops to a minimum, as shown
in Figure.
The flux density and the magnetizing force are related by the following:
6 HYSTERESIS
A typical B-H curve for a ferromagnetic material such as steel can be derived
using the setup in Figure.
Series magnetic circuit used

to define the hysteresis
Hysteresis curve. curve.
If the entire cycle is repeated, the curve obtained for the same core will be
determined by the maximum H applied. Three hysteresis loops for the same
material for maximum values of H less than the saturation value are shown in
Figure. In addition, the saturation curve is repeated for comparison purposes.
Note from the various curves that

for a particular value of H, say, Hx,
the value of B can vary widely, as
determined by the history of the
core.
In an effort to assign a particular
value of B to each value of H, we
compromise by connecting the Defining the normal magnetization curve.
tips of the hysteresis loops. The
resulting curve, shown by the
heavy, solid line in Figure is called
the normal magnetization curve.
Normal magnetization curve For various materials is shown in following Figure
Normal magnetization curve for three ferromagnetic materials.

for the low magnetizing force region.
7 AMPÈRE’S CIRCUITAL LAW
which, in words, states that the algebraic sum of the rises and drops of the
mmf around a closed loop of a magnetic circuit is equal to zero; that is, the
sum of the rises in mmf equals the sum of the drops in mmf around a closed
loop.
A more practical equation for the mmf drop is
As an example , consider the magnetic circuit appearing in Figure constructed

of three different ferromagnetic materials. Applying Ampère’s circuital law|:
Series magnetic circuit of three

different materials.
All the terms of the equation are known
except the magnetizing force for each
portion of the magnetic circuit, which can
be found by using the B-H curve if the flux
density B is known.
8 FLUX
Flux distribution of a series-

parallel magnetic network
EXAMPLE 1 For the series magnetic circuit in Figure:

a. Find the value of I required to develop a magnetic flux of 4x10-4 Wb.
b. Determine µ and µr for the material under these conditions.
a. The flux density B is
Using the B-H curves, we can determine the magnetizing force H:
Applying Ampère’s circuital law yields
b. The permeability of the material

EXAMPLE 2
The electromagnet in Figure has picked up a section of cast iron. Determine
the current I required to establish the indicated flux in the core.
1cm=2.54in 1m=2.54/100 cm
The flux density for each section is
The magnetizing force is

H (sheet steel=70 At/m
H(cast iron) =1600 At/m
Determining Hl for each section:
EXAMPLE 3
Determine the secondary current I2 for the transformer in Figure if the
resultant clockwise flux in the core is 1.5x10-5 Wb.
10 AIR GAPS
Air gaps: (a) with fringing; (b) ideal.

The spreading of the flux lines outside the common area of the core for the
air gap in Figure (a) is known as fringing. For our purposes, we shall ignore
this effect and assume the flux distribution to be as in Figure(b).
EXAMPLE 4
Find the value of I required to establish a magnetic flux of =0.75x10-4 Wb
in the series magnetic circuit in Figure.
From the B-H curves
H (cast steel) 280 At/m

Applying Ampère’s circuital law, we obtain
Note from the above that the air gap requires the biggest share
(by far) of the impressed NI because air is nonmagnetic.
11 SERIES-PARALLEL MAGNETIC CIRCUITS
As one might expect, the close analogies between electric and
magnetic circuits eventually lead to series-parallel magnetic circuits. In
fact, the electric circuit analogy will prove helpful in defining the
procedure to follow toward a solution.
EXAMPLE 5
Determine the current I required to establish a flux of =1.5x10-4 Wb in the
section of the core indicated in Figure.
From B/H curve
Applying Ampère’s circuital law around loop 2 in
From B/H curve
The results for bcde, be, and efab are entered in Table 6.
From B/H curve
To demonstrate that µ is sensitive to the magnetizing force H,
For section bcde
For section be
For section efab,

12 DETERMINING 
The examples of this section are of the second type, where NI is given and the
flux  must be found. This is a relatively straightforward problem if only one
magnetic section is involved. Then
EXAMPLE 6: Calculate the magnetic flux  for the magnetic circuit in Figure
Problems 3,5,7,9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17 and 18
Report problem 10, 15, 17 and 18

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Magnetic Circuits

• Become aware of the similarities between the analysis of

• Develop a clear understanding of the important parameters

• Begin to appreciate why a clear understanding of magnetic

The response and characteristics of each have an impact on the

Fortunately, there is a great deal of similarity between the

The “pressure” on the system to establish magnetic lines of force

The reluctance of a material to the setting up of magnetic flux

Substituting for the magnetomotive force results in

Note in Figure that the direction of the flux

Series magnetic circuit used

Note from the various curves that

Normal magnetization curve for three ferromagnetic materials.

As an example , consider the magnetic circuit appearing in Figure constructed

Series magnetic circuit of three

Flux distribution of a series-

EXAMPLE 1 For the series magnetic circuit in Figure:

Using the B-H curves, we can determine the magnetizing force H:

Applying Ampère’s circuital law yields

b. The permeability of the material

The magnetizing force is

Air gaps: (a) with fringing; (b) ideal.

From the B-H curves

H (cast steel) 280 At/m

Applying Ampère’s circuital law around loop 2 in

From B/H curve

For section efab,

Report problem 10, 15, 17 and 18

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