Parametric analysis of EMAT spiral coils through multiphysics simulations in COMSOL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24054/rcta.v2i48.4522Keywords:
electromagnetic acoustic transducer, non-destructive testing, ultrasound, predictive maintenance, mechanical designAbstract
This work presents a parametric analysis of spiral-coil electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) using multiphysics simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics. The model integrates a spiral coil, a permanent magnet, and a conductive test plate, and is solved on a two-dimensional planar domain in which the cross-section of its conductors represents the spiral. The study evaluates the influence of excitation-signal parameters and coil and magnet geometry on the generation and propagation of ultrasonic waves in metallic plates. The campaign comprises ten parameters, each evaluated at six levels, using a one-factor-at-a-time design, with a common base condition at the midpoint of each interval. The results show that both the envelope coefficient of the excitation pulse and the amplitude of the applied current yield quantifiable variations in the response magnitude and duration. The magnet aspect ratios and the winding parameters modify the magnetic field distribution and, consequently, the simulated mechanical response. Variations of the carrier central frequency reveal a trade-off between signal amplitude and temporal resolution, which is decisive for defect detection. These findings provide practical guidelines for optimizing the design of spiral-coil EMATs, thereby improving signal quality and reliability in non-destructive testing applications.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Miguel Angel Rios Tarazona, Jhon Jairo Padilla Aguilar, Sandra Johana Benítez Muñoz, Luis Ángel Silva, Juan Carlos Villamizar Rincón, Daniel Felipe Bernal Mejía, Mauricio Barrios Castellanos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
