Effect of excitation field strength on magnetic Barkhausen noise profile in case carburized EN 36 steel

Abstract

The sensitivity of magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) profile to changes in the excitation field strength has been investigated in case carburized EN36 steel. In general, the 0.5 mm case depth EN 36 steel specimen induces a double peak profile indicative of inhomogeneity through the detected depth in the magnetized landscape. Various excitation field amplitudes have been applied to the electromagnet to generate various excitation fields on the specimen surface. Excitation field at the lowest level induced an MBN emission of two peaks of equivalent heights at low current value. The first peak occurs at lower field than the second peak in each half magnetization cycle. As the excitation field increases, the height of both peaks increased but the second peak, at higher field, increases in a higher rate than that of the first peak at lower field. Beyond certain magnetizing voltage, both peaks heights began to saturate and no further increase in the MBN intensity has been noticed. The results are discussed on the basis of the available theories on MBN.