Magnetic field distribution under ferrite cores: An approximation model for ECT simulation

Abstract

This paper presents a simplified model for calculating the magnetic field generated by a ferrite U-shaped probe. This kind of probes are commonly used in non-destructive evaluation applications, where the flux concentration in the control region is essential. The objective is to circumvent the complexities associated with the numerical modelling of the ferrite core geometry by solving an equivalent problem, which involves a simple rectangular I-shaped core in combination with a judicious choice of boundary conditions. Comparative analysis between experimental measurements and finite element method (FEM) simulations considering both the original U-shaped and the equivalent I-shaped ferrite core geometries verifies the validity of this approach. Consequently, this simplified model yields reliable results, facilitating simulation of this type of probes in significantly reduced computational time.