Study of the effect of the demagnetizing field in Epstein strips of grain-oriented electrical steels through 3D finite element analysis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the demagnetizing field in the Epstein characterization of grain-oriented electrical steels through a finite element method (FEM) simulations. Design/methodology/approach A 3D finite element simulation has been realized to represent the parallel and X-stacking configurations in the Epstein frame. The numerical results have been compared with experimental measures. Findings In a parallel configuration, the measured induction is actually the one in the material, whereas the resulting magnetic field differs from the applied one (in magnitude and angle) due to the shape anisotropy (demagnetizing field). In X-stacking configuration, the resulting magnetic field is close to the applied magnetic field (and then the supposed excitation field in the Epstein frame), whereas the magnetic induction has deviated from the axis of the strips. Originality/value Both stacking configurations (parallel and cross) of the Epstein frame are analyzed by three-dimensional finite element simulation.