Minimizing losses in electrical steel via process optimization using 3MA micromagnetic nondestructive testing

This work proposes a micromagnetic approach that derives magnetic hysteresis losses and properties from standard 3MA measurements. Non-oriented electrical steel FeSi (M400-50A) and comparative steel 22MnB5 are plastically cold-formed in uniaxial tension and characterized in strain and transverse directions using the 3MA incremental permeability technique. An analytical nonlinear eddy-current model is coupled with a modified Jiles–Atherton hysteresis model, whose parameters are identified from the incremental permeability via an Artificial Bee Colony optimization algorithm. The reconstructed B(H) loops agree well with independent hysteresis measurements and show that plastic deformation increases coercivity, induces pronounced magnetic anisotropy, and improves soft-magnetic behavior of FeSi in one direction. The method enables inline monitoring of forming-induced changes in magnetic properties and provides a basis for minimizing iron losses through process optimization