Open Phys.

2017; 15:803–808

Research Article

Janis Marks* and Sandra Vitolina

Modelling of magnetostriction of transformer

magnetic core for vibration analysis
https://doi.org/10.1515/phys-2017-0094 In Latvian power system, there are three different vari-
Received Nov 02, 2017; accepted Nov 12, 2017 ants of performing mechanical diagnostics of large power
transformers: in no-load operation mode, at 50% and at
Abstract: Magnetostriction is a phenomenon occurring in
100% of full rated power. The sensors do not save har-
transformer core in normal operation mode. Yet in time,
monic analysis; they obtain and save the total values of
it can cause the delamination of magnetic core resulting
vibrations. If within the received data, there are vibration
in higher level of vibrations that are measured on the
values that exceed the provided limits: displacement – 100
surface of transformer tank during diagnostic tests. The
µm, velocity – 20 mm/s, acceleration – 10 m/s2 , more de-
aim of this paper is to create a model for evaluating elas-
tailed analysis is required.
tic deformations in magnetic core that can be used for
With this diagnosis methodology, it is possible to ob-
power transformers with intensive vibrations in order to
tain robust information about the power transformer and
eliminate magnetostriction as a their cause. Description of
discover, if a relatively large mechanical defect has oc-
the developed model in Matlab and COMSOL software is
curred. However, there are no following actions and pro-
provided including restrictions concerning geometry and
cedures advised in the case of increased vibration values.
properties of materials, and the results of performed re-
Therefore, there is a necessity for a different diagnostic
search on magnetic core anisotropy are provided. As a case
approach of large power transformer mechanical fault de-
study modelling of magnetostriction for 5-legged 200 MVA
tection to improve result accuracy and reliability. The aim
power transformer with the rated voltage of 13.8/137kV is
of this paper is to develop a simulation model for trans-
conducted, based on which comparative analysis of vibra-
formers with high vibration level to determine if magne-
tion levels and elastic deformations is performed.
tostriction process is the cause for such vibrations. Au-
Keywords: magnetostriction, magnetic cores, computer thors have presented the results of this simulation model
modeling and simulation, vibration measurement, mag- at international symposium [2].
netoelectric devices

PACS: 07.05.Tp; 07.10.-h; 75.80.+q; 85.70.-w; 85.80.Jm

1 Introduction
The mechanical condition of windings and magnetic core
of power transformers can be determined by using vi-
bration diagnostics. This process is performed for loaded
transformer or in a no-load operating mode by placing
vibration accelerometers on the surface of power trans-
former tank [1].
*Corresponding Author: Janis Marks: Department of Electrical
Machines and Devices, Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia;
Email: janis.marks@rtu.lv
Sandra Vitolina: Department of Electrical Machines and Devices,
Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia
2 Magnetostriction in Magnetic
Core
Magnetostriction is a property of ferromagnetic materials
that changes their geometric dimensions when exposed to
magnetic field [3]. It is because these ferromagnetic mate-
rials are composed of small magnetic domains that have
their unique magnetic orientation, placement and size.
Generally, magnetic orientation is random through-
out the ferromagnetic material, when there is no magnetic
field passing through. Figure 1 a) shows this situation. The
color coding corresponds to a correlation with an upward
direction.
However, when an external magnetic field passes
through, the magnetic domains react to it and partially re-
arrange their sizes [4]. With this process, the domains with
matching magnetic orientation with the external magnetic

Open Access. © 2017 J. Marks and S. Vitolina, published by De Gruyter Open. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License
804 | J. Marks and S. Vitolina
Figure 1: a) ferromagnetic material magnetic domain individual orientation with no external magnetic field; b) magnetostriction process in
ferromagnetic material domains; c) resulting outcome of magnetostriction process in ferromagnetic material domains
field grow larger by changing the materials magnetic ori-
entation on their individual surfaces. Thus, the magnetic
domains, with individual magnetic orientation pointing
against the external magnetic field become smaller [4].
This process is visualised in Figure 1 b), where areas color
coded in grey, represent the fractions of the non-aligning
magnetic domains with the external magnetic field that
will change their individual magnetic orientation and sep-
arate from their original magnetic domains. Afterwards,
these grey regions will join their more aligned neighbour-
ing magnetic domains.
The result of this process is visualised in Figure 1 c).
The magnetic domains have changed their original shape.
Due to this, the shape of the entire ferromagnetic body has
changed as well.
In the case of large power transformers, magnetic core
is made of sheet steel, which creates a complex three-
dimensional system consisting of a ferromagnetic mate-
rial since the largest part of magnetic flux concentrates
there [5]. This causes elastic deformations and vibrations
of the magnetic core that have a sinusoidal form since the
externally caused magnetic field is also sinusoidal. This
process over a period can cause delamination since the
elastic deformations are continuous throughout the oper-
ating period of power transformer. Furthermore, the vibra-
tion amplitudes may increase since this process can slowly
reduce the mechanical resistance of the transformer mag-
netic core.
3 Magnetostriction Model
Description
In order to determine these elastic deformations, it is nec-
essary to know characteristics of the magnetic field inside
magnetic core and magnetostriction curve of it. In this pa-
per, magnetostriction curve is used as a function L = f(B)
that expresses the elastic deformation, depending on mag-
netic induction [6]. This magnetostriction curve differs for
each material since the magnetic domains in multiple fer-
romagnetic materials can have varying sizes and can resist
to external magnetic field differently.
Since the model uses two software programs, it has
two distinct subsections:
• The first consists of a three-dimensional model cre-
ated in COMSOL software to calculate magnetic in-
duction values within the magnetic core, windings
and the surrounding area;
• The second is also a three-dimensional model cre-
ated in Matlab software for the calculation of elastic
deformations.
The first subsection in COMSOL begins with the cre-
ation of model geometry and the assignment of a material
to every created domain. Windings are made of copper,
magnetic core from steel but the surrounding area from
transformer oil. Each material used in the model has de-
fined physical characteristics and parameters. Afterwards,
it is necessary to generate a finite element mesh. Then the
program calculates the values of magnetic induction in all
the coordinates of finite element mesh intersections within
a given time intervals in a provided duration of time. A
built-in calculation system carries out the computations,
which contains Maxwell equations [7].
 Modelling of magnetostriction of transformer magnetic core | 805

Afterwards, the model exports obtained results to MS

Excel in the form of a table and then imports in Matlab
where RMS values of magnetic induction are calculated.
The program creates a three-dimensional matrix that rep-
resents the geometrical structure of transformer model.
Within it, it is assumed that every element is 1 cm3 . The
model uses approximation to obtain the RMS values of
magnetic induction where they are unknown. A modified
three-dimensional nearest neighbour problem (NNP) algo-
rithm carries out this approximation [8]. Figure 2: First case of magnetic core anisotropy
These results from Matlab subsection allow determin-
ing whether magnetostriction is the cause of these vibra-
tion epicentres.
The input parameters of the proposed magnetostric-
tion model have the following aspects:
• The geometric dimensions of transformer tank,
windings and magnetic core;
• The materials for different parts and their physical
characteristics;
• Frequency of the voltage, primary voltage, sec- Figure 3: Second case of magnetic core anisotropy
ondary voltage, primary winding rated current, sec-
ondary winding rated current and the transforma-
tion coefficient; the magnetostriction model since it is present in magnetic
• No-load operation mode; cores of actual large power transformers [9].
• Magnetostriction curve function L = f(B) of magnetic As verification, two types of magnetic core anisotropy
core material. are used. Figures 2 and 3 show their layout.
The arrows display the direction in magnetic core rods
The simulation model has the following restrictions: and yokes with lesser magnetic permeability. The first case
• The magnetic core consists of 10 steel sheets. Each of magnetic core anisotropy has a characteristic that the
of them is 60 mm thick; anisotropy direction aligns with the direction of the trans-
• The bracings of magnetic core are not considered; former magnetic field. The intersections of the different
• The terminals of primary and secondary windings domains are located at the corners between rods and yokes
are not considered; of transformer magnetic core.
• Interwinding insulation is not considered; The difference in resulting magnetic field for this lay-
• The model functions as an enclosed magnetic sys- out of anisotropy shows ∆ = 0.7119% absolute change. The
tem – magnetic field does not exist outside of it. model obtains this result by comparing the values of mag-
netic induction in all positions within the Matlab subsec-
The result of this magnetostriction model is a visuali-
tion three-dimensional model matrix. Equation (1) shows
sation of calculated elastic deformation values within the
this calculation,
magnetic core of the transformer.
∑︀n abs(B base.n −B ani.n )
i=1 B base.n · 100%
∆= (1)
n
4 Research on Magnetic Core where Bbase – RMS value of magnetic induction with
isotropic magnetic core;
Anisotropy of Proposed Model Bani – RMS value of magnetic induction with anisotropic
magnetic core;
The created three-dimensional model in COMSOL soft-
n – total amount of positions in the Matlab subsection of
ware consists of domains for the magnetic core that are
the model.
isotropic. Therefore, it is necessary to verify, whether
However, for the second case of magnetic anisotropy,
anisotropy would have relative influence on the results of
the difference of magnetic field was ∆ = 11.90%. This is
because the intersections of domains with different direc-
806 | J. Marks and S. Vitolina

Figure 5: Result for visualisation of vibration diagnostics data on

the transformer tank surface, µm

5 Case Study
As case study, the authors chose 5-legged large power
transformer [10] with primary voltage – 13.8 kV, secondary
voltage – 137 kV, primary and secondary rated power – 200
MVA for this paper. For this large power transformer vibra-
tion measurement results on tank surface are available in
the study [11]. Continued research after a year showed that
Figure 4: a) segment of created FEM mesh in COMSOL software; b)
resulting instantaneous values of magnetic induction in magnetic the values of vibration velocity exceed the given limit of 20
core mm/s 2.5 times. However, the values of vibration displace-
ment and acceleration did not exceed limits that indicate
necessity for in depth analysis.
tions of anisotropy shifted from the corners of magnetic
This magnetostriction model uses a method proposed
core towards the rods and had 90∘ cut angle between rod
by author in [12] for visualization and approximation of vi-
and yoke domains (see Figure 3).
bration results for areas of transformer tank surface where
Therefore, for this anisotropy type of magnetic core,
vibration sensors were not installed (see Figure 5). If this
the magnetic field is more concentrated near the inner cor-
visualisation displays vibration amplitudes that exceed
ners where rods and the yoke connect and there is a wind-
the given limits, the model begins the simulation since
ing around the rod. Figure 4 shows this result, where both
otherwise there is no necessity to calculate possible me-
the a) FEM mesh and b) instantaneous values of magnetic
chanical faults.
induction are visualised.
Such approximation allows determining the possible
Increased instantaneous values of magnetic induction
vibration epicentre regions and their intensity. However,
are visualised in red tones (see Figure 4 b)). These posi-
it is not possible to distinguish between vibrations caused
tions are the closest segments of the magnetic core to the
by the magnetic core and vibrations caused by transformer
windings due to the geometry of the magnetic core. Fur-
windings since the output of the visualisation is the re-
thermore, the rapidly changing direction of the anisotropy
sult of a surface not a three-dimensional model. Therefore,
of magnetic permeability contributes to this result since
there is a necessity for further diagnostics of the magnetic
the magnetic field has least resistance in the region.
core, which the magnetostriction model carries out.
When taken in consideration that the program cal-
The first subsection of the magnetostriction model for
culates this difference by using absolute values, the total
case study has the following results. Overall, from the cal-
magnetic field experiences these differences as a change
culations, magnetic core has 12779 positions, primary and
in placement of the highest magnetic induction values not
secondary windings have 4167 positions and transformer
an overall increase or decrease. Therefore, the conclusion
oil has 14181 positions, where the instantaneous values of
is that isotropic magnetic core is suitable for this magne-
magnetic induction were calculated using COMSOL soft-
tostriction model.
ware. Figure 6 shows a cross-section of instantaneous val-
ues of magnetic induction from these results.
 Modelling of magnetostriction of transformer magnetic core | 807
Figure 6: Instantaneous magnetic induction, T, values in COMSOL
Figure 7: Calculated results of elastic deformation in magnetic core
generated by the effect of magnetostriction in Matlab
Afterwards, the model uses the obtained values of
magnetic induction to calculate the values of elastic de-
formation by using magnetostriction curve. Figure 7 shows
the visualisation of data as the final output of the model.
6 Conclusions
The created magnetostriction model of transformer mag-
netic core yields results for the numerical values and loca-
tion of elastic deformations. Based on the obtained results
it can be concluded that the most intensive elastic defor-
mations caused by magnetostriction effect for particular
transformer analysed within case study are located in the
middle of phase B rod. Yet, area with the highest vibration
values measured on the tank surface of this transformer is
located on the outer limb of phase A.
Therefore, by comparing the results of visualisation
and magnetostriction model, the conclusion is that in this
particular case the cause magnetostriction in magnetic
core did not cause high level of vibrations in the trans-
former. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the pos-
sibility of other mechanical faults such as insufficient me-
chanical bracing of some parts of magnetic core.
The authors plan to implement this magnetostriction
model as a separate section of a more extensive diagnos-
tics methodology of power transformers with the mod-
elling of the electrodynamic force influence on the trans-
former windings.
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