Magnetic circuit 2026-10-18
A magnetic circuit approximates a narrow core and its gaps by sections carrying a common magnetic flux . With negligible leakage and approximately uniform magnetic flux density across each section, Gauss's law for magnetism gives . The magnetostatic Ampère law then gives . This requires an appropriate material relation; constant magnetic permeability is an approximation for an actual magnetic core.
Magnetic reluctance 2026-10-18
The magnetic reluctance of a linear section of magnetic circuit is the ratio of the winding's integrated magnetic field intensity to the magnetic flux, with units . For uniform length , cross-sectional area , and relative magnetic permeability , . Series sections carrying the same magnetic flux have additive magnetic reluctances, and .
Magnetic saturation 2026-10-18
Magnetic saturation is the regime in which increasing the applied magnetic field intensity produces little further increase in magnetization. The total magnetic flux density can still increase through its vacuum contribution, . Consequently a constant large magnetic permeability cannot describe a core throughout this regime; ideal magnetic circuit predictions based on that assumption overestimate field concentration.
With uniform section and negligible magnetic fringing, constant magnetic flux gives equal magnetic flux densities in the core and gap:Here is the core arc length and the additional gap length. Applying the magnetostatic Ampère law around the complete magnetic circuit,Consequently,This tends to when the gap dominates the magnetic reluctance, , and reduces to the no-gap result as . The gap magnetic flux density is .