Mingyang Lu

A Novel Compensation Algorithm for Thickness Measurement Immune to Lift-Off Variations Using Eddy Current Method

Lift-off variation causes errors in the eddy current thickness measurements of metallic plates. In this paper, we have developed an algorithm that can compensate for this variation and produce an index that is linked to the thickness, but is virtually independent of lift-off. This index, termed as the compensated peak frequency, can be obtained from the measured multifrequency inductance spectral data using the algorithm we developed in this paper. This method has been derived through mathematical manipulation and verified by both the simulation and experimental data. Accuracy in the thickness measurements at different lift-offs proved to be within 2%.

Reducing the Lift-Off Effect on Permeability Measurement for Magnetic Plates From Multifrequency Induction Data

Lift-off variation causes errors in eddy current measurement of nonmagnetic plates as well as magnetic plates. For nonmagnetic plates, previous work has been carried out to address the issue. In this paper, we follow a similar strategy, but try to reduce the lift-off effect on another index—zero-crossing frequency for magnetic plates. This modified index, termed as the compensated zero-crossing frequency, can be obtained from the measured multifrequency inductance spectral data using the algorithm we developed in this paper. Since the zero-crossing frequency can be compensated, the permeability of magnetic plates can finally be predicted by deriving the relation between the permeability and zero-crossing frequency from Dodd and Deeds method. We have derived the method through mathematical manipulation and verified it by both simulation and experimental data. The permeability error caused by liftoff can be reduced within 7.5%.

Acceleration of Frequency Sweeping in Eddy-Current Computation

In this paper, a novel method for accelerating frequency sweeping in eddy-current calculation using finite-element method is presented. Exploiting the fact that between adjacent frequencies, the eddy-current distributions are similar, an algorithm is proposed to accelerate the frequency sweeping computation. The solution of the field quantities under each frequency, which involves solving a system of linear equations using the conjugate gradients squared (CGS) method, is accelerated by using an optimized initial guess—the final solution from the previous frequency. Numerical tests show that this treatment could speed up the convergence of the CGS solving process, i.e., reduced number of iterations reaching the same relative residuals or reaching smaller residuals with the same iteration number.

A Novel Dual Modality Sensor With Sensitivities to Permittivity, Conductivity, and Permeability

In this paper, an electromagnetic sensor which can operate simultaneously in capacitive and inductive modalities with sensitivities to permittivity, conductivity, and permeability is developed, and a novel measurement strategy is proposed accordingly. The sensor is composed of two planar spiral coils with a track width of 4 mm, which promotes its capacitive mode. The capacitive coupling is measured in common mode, while the inductive coupling is measured in differential mode. In capacitive mode, the sensor is sensitive to changes in permittivity, i.e., the dielectric material distribution; while in inductive mode, it is sensitive to magnetically permeable material and electrically conductive material. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the sensor can simultaneously measure dielectric and conductive materials. This novel sensing element has been designed and implemented. Experimental results verified its effectiveness in dual modality measurement.

Prediction of the asymptotical magnetic polarization tensors for cylindrical samples using the boundary element method

The magnetic polarization tensor is a frequency-dependent, rotation-invariant and object-specific property of a metallic object. This paper presents an approach to compute the magnetic polarization tensor of a metallic object based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM), which treats the object as a perfect electrical conductor (PEC) and therefore is able to predict the limiting cases where very high frequency and/or high conductivity is assumed. A uniform magnetic field is applied to an object and the scattered field at a certain distance is obtained in the simulations. The magnetic tensor can then be deduced from the scattered field. The simulated results agree well with an analytical solution for spheres and with measured results for a number of cylinders for limiting cases.

Custom edge-element FEM solver and its application to eddy-current simulation of realistic 2M-element human brain phantom: Applications of a Custom FEM Solver

Extensive research papers of three-dimensional computational techniques are widely used for the investigation of human brain pathophysiology. Eddy current analyzing could provide an indication of conductivity change within a biological body. A significant obstacle to current trend analyses is the development of a numerically stable and efficiency-finite element scheme that performs well at low frequency and does not require a large number of degrees of freedom. Here, a custom finite element method (FEM) solver based on edge elements is proposed using the weakly coupled theory, which separates the solution into two steps. First, the background field (the magnetic vector potential on each edge) is calculated and stored. Then, the electric scalar potential on each node is obtained by FEM based on Galerkin formulations. Consequently, the electric field and eddy current distribution in the object can be obtained. This solver is more efficient than typical commercial solvers since it reduces the vector eddy current equation to a scalar one, and reduces the meshing domain to just the eddy current region. It can therefore tackle complex eddy current calculations for models with much larger numbers of elements, such as those encountered in eddy current computation in biological tissues. An example is presented with a realistic human brain mesh of 2 million elements. In addition, with this solver, the equivalent magnetic field induced from the excitation coil is applied, and therefore there is no need to mesh the excitation coil. In combination, these significantly increase the efficiency of the solver. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:604-616, 2018.