Magnetic Signal Changes Research Articles

Mechanism of strain-induced magnetic signal change in ferromagnetic materials under weak magnetic environment

Weak magnetic detection based on force-magnetic coupling effect is widely used in nondestructive testing of ferromagnetic materials, but the weak magnetic signals caused by the deformation of ferromagnetic materials under the action of external load show nonlinear changes, and the existing theories can not make a unified conclusion on the mechanism of nonlinear changes of magnetic signals, which limits the further application of weak magnetic detection. In this paper, a microscopic model of ferromagnetic material is established with the strain of the material as the independent variable. Firstly, the reasonableness of the established model is verified by the stress–strain relationship, and the stress concentration phenomenon generated by the change of the microscopic structure of the model is studied in depth by using the XRD diffraction method, so as to put forward the idea of characterizing the macroscopic stress with microscopic dislocations; secondly, the mechanism of the change of the magnetic signals of the ferromagnetic material caused by strain is analyzed by using the atomic magnetic moments and the density of states. The model explains the mechanism of strain-induced magnetic signal change in ferromagnetic materials, and has a guiding role in the further application and promotion of the weak magnetic method.

Study on the sealing performance of high-pressure flanges by a magnetic measurement method of bolt axial force

Under high-pressure conditions, flange sealing often fails due to inadequate bolt pre-tension, leading to unstable pressurization or leakage. Assessing the integrity of high-pressure flange sealing presents challenges, constrained by operational conditions, complex equipment integration, and associated costs. This study introduces a method to evaluate flange sealing using magnetic measurements of bolt axial forces. A novel device developed using the magnetoelastic method efficiently and conveniently measures these forces under various internal pressures. The results show a linear relationship between magnetic signals and bolt axial forces at nominal pressures, whereas excessively high pressures cause anomalous changes in magnetic signals, indicative of bolt plastic deformation. Finite element simulation analyzed the changes in bolt axial force and gasket contact stress due to internal pressures, leading to an empirical formula that correlates these variables under varying pressures. The study also explored the impact of uneven pre-tensioning and gasket material on sealing contact stress. A sealing contact surface model, established based on actual roughness profile parameters, enabled the simulation and formulation of an exponential relationship between contact stress and sealing clearance. This foundation facilitated the creation of a leakage prediction model that incorporates bolt axial force parameters, thus enabling a quantitative assessment of flange sealing performance. This research provides a practical approach to evaluating the sealing performance of operational high-pressure flanges.

Aggregation of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Biological Solvents Evaluated by HTS-SQUID Magnetic Immunoassay System

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been studied for various medical applications by taking advantage of their unique magnetic properties. Magnetic immunoassay (MIA) is a technique for the rapid detection of target biomarkers by antigen-antibody reaction between antibody-modified MNPs and the target biomarker. In this study, we aim to improve the accuracy of the MIA, we evaluated the AC magnetic properties of MNPs in the biological solvents. To measure the magnetic signal of MNPs, we used the developed HTS-SQUID magnetic immunoassay system. First, we evaluated the instability of the HTS-SQUID magnetic immunoassay system using pellets of manganese (II) fluoride. The results show that the device instability due to operating time does not affect the measurement of magnetic signal changes in MNPs due to biological solvents. Since the magnetic properties of MNPs depend on particle size and viscosity, we measured the time evolution of the magnetic signal of Resovist in glycerin, human serum, sheep whole blood, and NaCl. It was found that the magnetic signal of Resovist decreased exponentially with ions contained in the solvent. The results are fitted as the exponential double function, suggesting that the magnetic signal of MNPs in biological solvents is affected by the aggregation of MNPs in the blood and that there are at least two steps in the mechanism of the aggregation.

Magnetostrictive and Electroconductive Stress‐Sensitive Functional Spider Silk

AbstractElectronics and soft robotics demand the development of a new generation of hybrid materials featuring novel properties. Among these, remarkable mechanical properties are required to sustain mechanical stresses, and electrical and magnetic properties are essential to design the devices’ interface. In this study, a hybrid material is presented, consisting of a spider silk thread, providing mechanical robustness, coated with a layer of a magnetostrictive FeCo alloy, which ensures both electrical conductivity and stress‐sensitive magnetic properties. The durability and the homogeneity of the composite are validated, as well as its ability to respond to magnetic and mechanical stimuli. Despite the coating, the soft nature of the silk and its mechanical performances are preserved. The magnetic study reveals that the magnetic behavior of the film is strongly affected by the silk thread–FeCo layer interaction, especially under mechanical stresses. Indeed, when the composite is subjected to tensile strain, the magnetic signal changes accordingly, indicating that the layer–silk interaction is maintained and can be exploited to reveal the tensional state of the sample even under severe cycles. Therefore, the presented hybrid material is a flexible fiber with properties that are suitable for magneto‐electronics applications, e.g., magnetic actuators as well as strain/stress sensors.

Recording Temperature with Magnetic Supraparticles.

Small-sized temperature indicator additives autonomously record temperature events via a gradual irreversible signal change. This permits, for instance, the indication of possible cold-chain breaches or failure of electronics but also curing of glues. Thus, information about the materials' thermal history can be obtained upon signal detection at every point of interest. In this work, maximum-temperature indicators with magnetic readout based on micrometer-sized supraparticles (SPs) are introduced. The magnetic signal transduction is, by nature, independent of the materials' optical properties. This facilitates the determination of valuable temperature information from the inside, that is, the bulk, even of dark and opaque macroscopic objects, which might differ from their surface. Compared to state-of-the-art optical temperature indicators, complementary magnetic readout characteristics ultimately expand their applicability. The conceptualized SPs are hierarchically structured assemblies of environmentally friendly, inexpensive iron oxide nanoparticles and thermoplastic polymer. Irreversible structural changes, induced by polymer softening, yield magnetic interaction changes within and between the hierarchic sub-structures, which are distinguishable and define the temperature indication mechanism. The fundamental understanding of the SPs' working principle enables customization of the particles' working range, response time, and sensitivity, using a toolbox-like manufacturing approach. The magnetic signal change is detected self-referenced, fast, and contactless.

Bending and Collapse: Magnetic Recording Fidelity of Magnetofossils From Micromagnetic Simulation

AbstractMagnetosome chains produced by magnetotactic bacteria are important paleoenvironmental and paleomagnetic recorders. It has been shown that magnetic properties of magnetosome chains are closely related to their morphology and chain structures; however, the in situ structures of magnetosome chains in sediments (magnetofossils) are not known. Magnetosome chains are subject to various deformations after cell dissolution and are therefore unlikely to be fully intact, obscuring their original magnetic signals. Here, we use finite element micromagnetic simulations to quantify changes in magnetic signals in response to chain deformation, in particular, as a function of variable degrees of bending and collapse. Our results indicate that bending/collapse leads to a significant coercivity reduction and domain state transition of the chain. Therefore, hysteresis parameters can be used to assess the degree of chain bending/collapse in magnetofossil‐rich sediments. Calculations of the contributions of chain bending/collapse to the post‐depositional remanent magnetization (pDRM) of magnetofossils indicate that pDRM remains both faithful to the pre‐bending/collapse natural remanent magnetization, and that the remanence of some structurally deformed magnetofossil assemblages remains thermally stable over billion‐year timescales, suggesting that even strongly deformed magnetosome chains in ancient geological materials retain faithful paleomagnetic records and thus have potentials for tracing ancient geomagnetic field variations and microbial activities on early Earth.

Fatigue damage analysis of prefabricated concrete composite beams based on metal magnetic memory technique

Current studies have shown that using magnetic field change around the ferromagnetic material to characterize the fatigue damage is very effective, but researches on using metal magnetic memory (MMM) technique to detect fatigue damage are mostly limited to the material level. There are few studies on the mechanism of the magnetic signal change or numerical simulations at the member level. In this paper, cyclic loading tests were carried out on 8 prefabricated concrete composite beam specimens using wet connection technology. The relationship between the variation in the magnetic field of the steel reinforcement and the interface peeling damage of the specimens were investigated. Based on the magnetic flux density, the interface deformation, and the longitudinal bar strain, the mechanism of the magnetic signal change in different stages as well as interface peeling’s effect on the magnetic flux density were revealed. The feasibility of using the MMM field to characterize the fatigue damage of the composite spcimens was thus verified. Meanwhile, based on the modified J-A-S model, the model for magnetization change of prefabricated reinforced concrete components was established. By comparing the experimental and the simulation results, it is verified that the proposed model could effectively describe the magnetization change trend of the composite spcimens during the fatigue process.

Calculation and experimental verification of force-magnetic coupling model of magnetised rail based on density functional theory

Metal magnetic memory (MMM) is a widely used non-destructive electromagnetic detection technology. However, the analysis of its underlying principle is still insufficient. The mechanical and magnetic coupling model is a reasonable standpoint from which to study the principle of MMM. In this paper, a mechanical and magnetic coupling model of steel material is established based on density functional theory (DFT) using the CASTEP first-principles analysis software. In order to simulate the practical working environment, the residual magnetism in the rail is assumed to change with the stress on the rail. By applying different stresses to the model, the relationship between the atomic magnetic moment, the lattice constant and stress is explored, as well as the causes of magnetic signals in the stress concentration zone. It is revealed that the atomic magnetic moment and the crystal volume decrease with the increase in compressive stress. The magnetic signal on the surface of the magnetised metal component decreases with the increase in compressive stress, while the tensile stress shows the opposite tendency. Generally speaking, the change in atomic magnetic moment and crystal volume caused by lattice distortion under stress can be seen as the fundamental reason for the change in magnetic signal on the surface of the magnetised metal. The bending experiment of the rail shows that the normal magnetic field decreases with the increase in compressive stress in the stress concentration zone. The conclusion is verified by experiments.

Planar Hall sensor for quantitative measurement of pipe wall thickness reduction based on the magnetic flux density method

Quantitatively monitoring the thickness reduction of a pipe by using magnetic flux density method remains a major challenge due to the small and gradual change in magnetic flux density over a long distance along a pipe. This signal change is hindered in the background signal of a detector that has a high temperature dependence and unstable background signal. In this paper, we verify the effectiveness of magnetic flux density method in quantitatively monitoring thickness reduction through simulation and experimental verification. Experimental results show that the proportion of magnetic signal change is 1.4 mT per 10% wall loss. To support this quantitative approach, we optimise an original ultra-high-sensitivity planar Hall sensor with high thermal stability and stable background signal versus time for measurement of the magnetic field over a wide range from 0 to 50 mT. The quantitative measurements were validated on test pipes with varying thickness steps of 0.5 mm.

Characterisation of Steel Components Fatigue Life Phenomenon Based on Magnetic Flux Leakage Parameters

The metal magnetic memory (MMM) method is highly effective in assessing the extent of early damage, such as fatigue crack in ferromagnetic components due to the existence of stress concentration zones (SCZs). However, there are limited studies on the relationship between the magnetic signal parameter in predicting the fatigue life of ferromagnetic components. With the advent of information relating to fatigue life, the risk of failure of a component can be reduced, if not avoided. Therefore, this study was conducted using the MMM method to establish a relationship between the magnetic signal parameters in the SCZ with fatigue characteristics in predicting the fatigue life of the specimen. A cyclic test was conducted on SAE 1045 steel specimens using a constant amplitude tension–compression stress with a stress ratio of −1. To investigate the effect of load value on the fatigue life of the specimens, seven percentage values of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) were used: 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, and 80%. During the fatigue crack growth test, the MMM sensor was used to scan the magnetic signal data. Then, the data were analysed using the MMM Lifetime 2.0 software to obtain the fatigue life. Correlation graphs were plotted to determine the relationship between the MMM Lifetime 2.0 residual life and experimental residual life. The experimental results show that the distribution of magnetic signals was affected by the number of cycles and measurement line. As the number of cycles increased, the magnetic signal changes were more noticeable. For the measurement line, when the line was located near the crack initiation point, the magnetic signal distribution became clearer due to the presence of the SCZ. The evaluation of the maximum gradient, Kmax, variation also helped to assess the level of fatigue life based on the three stages of fatigue crack formation. Whereas, for the fatigue life assessment, the second measurement line (L2) and a contraction value of 0.7 were found to be suitable for predicting the fatigue life of specimens using MMM Lifetime 2.0 software. The experimental fatigue life and MMM Lifetime 2.0 fatigue life distribution of both parameters were in the two-factor range with the correlation coefficient, R2 of 0.9983. As such, the fatigue prediction results were acceptable. Accordingly, this study has demonstrated that the MMM method can be used to predict the remaining life of ferromagnetic components if the right parameters are used.

Uptake, translocation, and physiological effects of hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

There has been a growing concern with the environmental influences of nanomaterials due to recent developments in nanotechnology. This study investigates the impact and fate of hematite nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3 NPs) (∼14 nm in size) on a crop species, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). For this purpose, hematite NPs (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L) were hydroponically applied to barley at germination and seedling stages (three weeks). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) along with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques were used to track the NPs in plant tissues. The effects of NPs on the root cells were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy. Results revealed that α-Fe2O3 NPs significantly reduced the germination rate (from 80% in control to 30% in 400 mg/L), as well as chlorophyll (36–39%) and carotenoid (37%) contents. Moreover, the treatment led to a significant decline in the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm). Leaf VSM analysis indicated a change in magnetic signal for NPs-treated samples compared with untreated ones, which is mostly attributed to the iron (Fe) ions incorporated within the leaf tissue. Besides, Fe content in the roots and leaf had gradually increased by the increasing doses of NPs, which was confirming NPs’ translocation to the aerial parts. Microscopic observations revealed that α-Fe2O3 NPs altered root cell morphology and led to the injury of cell membranes. This study, in the light of our findings, shows that α-Fe2O3 NPs (∼14 nm in size) are taken up by the roots of the barley plants, and migrate to the plant leaves. Besides, NPs are phytotoxic for barley as they inhibit germination and pigment biosynthesis. This inhibition is probably due to the injury of the cell membranes in the roots. Therefore, the use of hematite NPs in agriculture and thereby their environmental diffusion must be addressed carefully.

Magnetic Signatures of Hydroxyl- and Water-Terminated Neutral and Tetra-Anionic Mn12 -Acetate.

We investigate the energetics and magnetic signatures of the parent molecular magnet Mn12 -Acetate [Mn12 O12 (COOR)16 (H2 O)4 ] and a chemically decomposed version of this structure, in which the four water molecules are converted to hydroxyl groups and hydrogen molecules. We determine electron addition and water decomposition energetics for this water-containing molecule using density-functional methods and include the recent Fermi-Löwdin-Orbital self-interaction correction. We find that it only costs 0.32 eV to add four electrons to the parent molecule. Furthermore, due to the strong Coulomb attractions between hydroxyl anions and the Mn cations, the energy cost for breaking the four coordinating water molecules into four coordinating hydroxyls and two hydrogen molecules is decreased in the tetra-anionic structure relative to the neutral structure. We calculate magnetic anisotropy barriers for the neutral molecule and the dehydrogenated tetra-anion and show that large changes in the magnetic anisotropy arise the strong attraction between the hydroxyl anions and four of the crown Mn cations. We suggest that the large changes in magnetic signals associated with the [Mn12 O12 (COOR)16 (HOH)4 ] to [Mn12 O12 (COOR)16 (OH- )4 + 2H2 ] decomposition could provide a nondestructive spectroscopic method for learning about water decomposition mechanisms in a class of realizable model catalytic systems that have been synthesized recently. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of stress-induced magnetization on crack monitoring by self magnetic flux leakage method

Fatigue cracks could occur in the material of offshore and marine structures that are cyclically loaded. These cracks occur due to the cyclic stresses induced by the waves causing premature failure. Monitoring these fatigue cracks using a wireless system gives the opportunity to guarantee the integrity of the structure without manual inspection, making this a safer way of inspection. In addition, inspection is very costly due to the man hours and because of the fact that the locations of fatigue cracks are mostly not easily accessible. Also, visual evaluation of the crack length can be difficult to assess, which could result in early retirement of structures or unnecessary and costly maintenance. A wireless crack monitoring system based on the Self Magnetic Flux Leakage (SMFL) method could be a solution for this problem. This method suggests that the ferromagnetic material is passively magnetized by the Earth’s magnetic field and the magnetic signal changes when a crack appears in the material. The measured data is sent wirelessly to the control room of the marine structure. Here, the data can be assessed to determine the size of the fatigue crack. With this information, it can be decided what course of action should be taken to ensure the integrity of the marine structure as long as possible. This will result in a safer way of working and being economically more efficient. For accurate crack sizing, the SMFL must be interpreted correctly. During cyclic loading the stresses in the material change, affecting the magnetic signal. This is called the stress-induced magnetization. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of stress-induced magnetization on the SMFL in the stress concentration zone of a structural steel plate, and its implications for crack monitoring by the SMFL method. The measured stress magnetization curves are obtained by means of an experiment. In this experiment, a steel plate with an elliptical hole is cyclically loaded up to the yield stress. The magnetic signal is measured in a grid around the hole. The results show a maximum variation of 25 µT. Depending on the application, the stress-induced magnetization may need to be considered for the interpretation of the measured signals for crack monitoring using the SMFL method.

Temporal changes in magnetic signal of burnt soils – A compelling three years pilot study

Wildfires strongly affect soils, including iron biogeochemical cycling and carbon storage. Thus, it is important to reveal the dynamics of iron oxide synthesis and transformations during and after a wildfire. This study investigates the temporal stability of strongly magnetic minerals appearing after a wildfire. Following a designed experimental fire, samples from vegetation ash and mineral soil were taken immediately after and at progressively longer time intervals. The magnetic susceptibility monitoring of samples during three years period demonstrates an initial increase in magnetic signal of ash-rich material taken immediately after the fire followed by a gradual decrease over time. The behavior of samples collected later after the fire showed only a moderate decrease. It is suggested that the magnetic susceptibility rise during the laboratory storage could be due to the increased availability of nutrients and microbial activity immediately after the fire and related intense redox reactions involving iron oxide particles. The decreasing trend in magnetic susceptibility is ascribed to the oxidation of ultrafine magnetite particles with time. All mineral soil samples from the deeper level showed an initial susceptibility increase, assigned to a similar process. Magnetic susceptibility monitoring was also carried out on samples gathered shortly after natural wildfires. The soil samples affected by strong and long wildfires show a decrease in magnetic susceptibility with time. This effect is more pronounced in the surface black-colored ash layer. The ash material from a site disturbed by a strong short wildfire demonstrates behavior similar to the ash from the experimental fire. It is supposed that the temporal evolution of magnetic susceptibility of the mineral alteration products of wildfires is influenced by the grain size of the produced iron oxide particles, their redox reactions mediated by the heterotrophic bacteria, as well as the amplifying role of pyrogenic carbon for intensification of the redox reactions.

Hydrothermal Venting at Hinepuia Submarine Volcano, Kermadec Arc: Understanding Magmatic‐Hydrothermal Fluid Chemistry

AbstractThe Hinepuia volcanic center is made up of two distinct edifices aligned northwest to southeast, with an active cone complex in the SE. Hinepuia is one of several active volcanoes in the northern segment of the Kermadec arc. Regional magnetic data show no evidence for large‐scale hydrothermal alteration at Hinepuia, yet plume data confirm present‐day hydrothermal discharge, suggesting that the hydrothermal system may be too young to have altered the host rocks with respect to measurable changes in magnetic signal. Gravity data are consistent with crustal thinning and shallow mantle under the volcanic center. Following the discovery of hydrothermal plumes over Hinepuia, the submersible Shinkai 6500 was used to explore the SE cone and sample hydrothermal fluids. The chemistry of hydrothermal fluids from submarine arc and backarc volcanoes is typically dominated by water‐rock interactions and/or magmatic degassing. Chemical analyses of vent fluids show that Hinepuia does not quite fit either traditional model. Moreover, the Hinepuia samples fall between those typically ascribed to both end‐member fluid types when plotted on a K‐Mg‐SO4 ternary diagram. Due to evidence of strong degassing, abundant native sulfur deposition, and H2S presence, the vent sampled at Hinepuia is ultimately classified as a magmatic‐hydrothermal system with a water‐rock influence. This vent is releasing water vapor and magmatic volatiles with a notable lack of salinity due to subcritical boiling and phase separation. Magmatic‐hydrothermal fluid chemistry appears to be controlled by a combination of gas flux, phase separation processes, and volcano evolution and/or distance from the magma source.

Automatic Scanning System for Back-Side Defect of Steel Structure Using Magnetic Flux Leakage Method

An automatic nondestructive evaluation system using the magnetic-flux-leakage method was developed for detecting the back-side defects of large structures in order to realize fast detection in a wide measurement area. A magnetic field was applied to an object using a ferrite yoke with an induction coil, and the leaked magnetic flux from the object was detected by a magnetoresistive sensor. This measurement probe was fixed on an automatic scanning system. The developed automatic scanning system detected magnetic signal changes corresponding to the back-side defects of the steel plates. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed system, we measured the steel plate of a cargo crane, which was corroded on the back side. We found that the detected magnetic signal changed markedly in the area with corrosion, whereas only a slight magnetic signal change was detected in the area without corrosion. Therefore, the developed system is useful for detecting the back-side defects in a wide area, and can be used for screening tests.

Moisture Content Evaluation Using Improved High-Tc SQUID-Based Rotating-Sample Magnetometer

Moisture content evaluated by magnetic signal change measured by rotating-sample magnetometer using high-temperature superconductor superconducting quantum interference device (HTS-SQUID) was investigated. To realize highly sensitive measurement of moisture content, an improvement in signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the previously developed magnetometer was examined. To increase the S/N ratio, the sample case with short width along the sample's movement direction was employed. By reducing the sample case width, the obtained magnetic signal intensity increased, and the frequency component of magnetic signal shifted toward high frequencies, leading to the low magnetic field noise range measurements. Using the improved magnetometer, the moisture content of silica gel was measured, and the magnetic signal intensity increased as the amount of water in the silica gel increased. Therefore, we propose a high-sensitivity, noncontact, and nondestructive method for moisture content evaluation using rotating-sample magnetometer.

Single cell detection using a magnetic zigzag nanowire biosensor

A magnetic zigzag nanowire device was designed for single cell biosensing. Nanowires with widths of 150, 300, 500, and 800 nm were fabricated on silicon trenches by electron beam lithography, electron beam evaporation, and lift-off processes. Magnetoresistance measurements were performed before and after the attachment of a single magnetic cell to the nanowires to characterize the magnetic signal change due to the influence of the magnetic cell. Magnetoresistance responses were measured in different magnetic field directions, and the results showed that this nanowire device can be used for multi-directional detection. It was observed that the highest switching field variation occurred in a 150 nm wide nanowire when the field was perpendicular to the substrate plane. On the other hand, the highest magnetoresistance ratio variation occurred in a 800 nm wide nanowire also when the field was perpendicular to the substrate plane. Besides, the trench-structured substrate proposed in this study can fix the magnetic cell to the sensor in a fluid environment, and the stray field generated by the corners of the magnetic zigzag nanowires has the function of actively attracting the magnetic cells for detection.

Variation of stress-induced magnetic signals during tensile testing of ferromagnetic steels

Stress alone applied to ferromagnetic materials can induce the generation of weak magnetic signals on their surfaces, which can be potentially used to estimate the degree of damage of ferromagnetic components. In this paper, the normal component of stress-induced magnetic field, H p( y), was measured during tensile tests on the surfaces of sheet specimens of three ferromagnetic materials. It has been concluded that H p( y) depends on the applied stress and will present different characteristics on the elastic and plastic deformation stages, respectively. The phenomenon of sharp changes in magnetic signals occurring at the instant of fracture was also discussed from the view of the interaction energy in a ferromagnet.

Magnetic detection of heated soils at paleolithic sites in Japan

We present a methodological approach to detect heated soil on ancient sites, using magnetic measurements. The method is based on changes in magnetic signals of soil by heating. The following three types of soil were used for testing the method: silty soil (SS), weathered volcanic ash (WVA, = loam) and fairly fresh volcanic ash (VA) called Odori tephra. On heating above 250–600°C, the magnetic susceptibility and remanent magnetization intensity increased for the SS and WVA samples, reflecting chemical alteration of magnetic minerals (from goethites to magnetites through hematites). The VA sample showed no susceptibility change suggesting the absence of goethites within it. On heating below 250°C, only the intensities of all the samples increased. This is possibly due to acquisition of thermal remanent magnetization. The largest change of the magnetic signals was identified for the SS sample and the smallest one was seen for the VA sample. Therefore, the in situ susceptibility measurement, which is the nondestructive and indirect method, seems to be effective to detect heated soil for sites of aqueous deposits as the SS. On the other hand, for sites of aeolian deposits as the WVA (loam) and VA, the intensity measurement of collected soils seems to be the most reliable method to detect evidence of heating. The degree of the magnetic stability (coercivity) against progressive alternating-field demagnetization was also an important parameter, indicating whether the investigated soils were heated or unheated. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.