Circuits and Systems, 2013, 4, 316-322

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/cs.2013.43043 Published Online July 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/cs)

The Magnetic Field Study of a Finite Solenoid

A. K. Al-Shaikhli, H. Fatima, K. Omar, A. Fadhil, J. Lina
Electrical Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
Email: okdhh_980@yahoo.com
Received April 15, 2013; revised May 16, 2013; accepted May 24, 2013
Copyright 2013 A. K. Al-Shaikhli et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT
This paper presents the axial and radial magnetic fields strength equations at any point inside or outside a finite solenoid
with infinitely thin walls. Solution of the equation has been obtained in terms of tabulated complete elliptic integrals.
For the axial field, an accurate approximation is given in terms of elementary function. Internal and external magnetic
fields to the solenoid are presented in graphical form with normalized values for a wide variety of solenoid dimensions.
A comparison with previous studies has been done, a good correlation between the two results is achieved and the ratio
of error is calculated.
Keywords: Solenoid Magnetic Field; Elliptic Integrals

1. Introduction
Magnetic fields have long been the interest of scientists.
Electric currents produce magnetic fields. As with the
electric field, magnetic fields have magnitude and direction. The direction is determined by the direction that a
compass will point. The magnitude is determined by the
size and location of the electric currents that produce the
magnetic field. The simplest way to create a uniform
magnetic field is to run a current through a solenoid of
wire [1,2]. Consider a solenoid of N turns and length L,
carrying a current I; the number of turns/length is n = N/L,
as shown in Figure 1.
For a long solenoid of many turns, the magnetic flux
density B within the coil is nearly uniform, while the
field outside is close to zero. The B-field within the coil
can be calculated from Amperes Law. This law may be
derived from the Biot-Savart Law [1,3]. There are many
papers published in the field of electromagnetic technology. Since the discovery of magnetism, engineers and
scientists alike have struggled continuously to devise
models and techniques to aid in the understanding and
prediction of the electromagnetic field in different situations. Along the way, many useful methods have been
developed and refined, for example, the analytical
method, the method of images, the magnetic circuit approach, the use of conformal transformation and the numerical methods, which are complex and need special
packages for execution [4].
The aim of this paper is modeling and programming
the axial and radial magnetic field strength at any point
Copyright 2013 SciRes.

within or outside a finite solenoid in terms of standard

tabulated functions, in order to wide study the effect of
various parameters in system response to which solenoid
are connected.

2. Mathematical Representation
The calculation of the fields generated by various electromagnetic configurations such as loops, finite helical
solenoids, and infinite solenoids has been treated by the
early classical physicists, but only the simplest cases
such as the single loop have been calculated for the entire
field both inside and outside the loop [5,6]. In other cases
such as helical solenoid, or finite solenoid the calculation
have been limited to the axis [1,7]. Derivations of the
off-axis positions have been done by Foelsch [8], and the
solutions are obtainable by means of the large number of
approximate expressions which are valid over restricted
ranges of size or position. The principal difficulty in the
calculation of the fields of nearly all configurations has
resulted from the fact that the integral solution cannot be
achieved without the use of various elliptic integrals.

3. Derivation of Equations
Consider a solenoid as shown in Figure 2. The magnetic
field due to this coil is given in terms of the magnetic
vector potential A by:
B XA
(1)
where, for the geometry assumed, only the A component can be nonzero. Then Equation (1) yields simply
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317

If z l , z L 2 and l is the axial distance

from the origin to the filament [1]. Then Equation (4)
becomes

ain
cos d
d
2 0 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

Let c r a 2ar cos , and c tan Then

d c sec 2 d
2

Figure 1. Solenoid with N turns.

L/2

z, l

(2)

i a cos d

4
R

(3)

where R is the distance from the local point on the

filament to the field point. For a solenoid made up of a
series of n filaments per unit length, we have then

a ni
l
d
2 L 2 0

cos d

L2

z l

r a 2ar cos
2

(4)

ani
sec

cos d
2
0

(7)

On integrating with respect to , this becomes

For a single circular filament, one has

(6)

A
1 rA
, Bz
z
r r

ani c sec 2 d
cos d
2 c 2 tan 2 c 2 0

For tan 2 1 sec 2

Then

Figure 2. Schematic diagram of a solenoid.

Br

L/2

(5)

ani
cos ln sec tan d

2 0

(8)

From c tan

2
2
ani
ln c
A
cos

c
2 0
c

ani
cos ln 2 c 2 ln c

2 0

(9)

(10)

ln c zero

ani
cos ln 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

2 0

(11)

by using integration by parts to Equation (11)

u ln 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos ,

dv cos d , v sin

ani

sin In 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

0
2

ani
ar sin 2 d

2 0 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

(12)

The first term vanishes [1].

ani
ar sin 2 d
A

2 0 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

(13)

On multiplying integrand by
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A. K. AL-SHAIKHLI

318

ET AL.

2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

2 r2

2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

2 r2

where c 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos .

Rearranging terms, and observing that use of the limits eliminates one term, there follows

sin 2 d 2 c 2
a rni
A

2 0 2 c 2 2 c 2 2 c 2

2
2
2
a rni sin d c
A

2 0
c2 2 c2

2
2
2
a rni sin d c
A

2 0
c2 2 c2

a 2 rni

(15)

2
sin d

0 c2 2 c2

a rni
sin 2 d
A
2 0 r 2 a 2 2ar cos 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

(14)

(16)

(17)

The two magnetic field components can now be easily obtained. The radial field Br is found by differentiating Equation (17) and yields

A
cos d
ani
Br
2 0 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos
z

(18)

To get Bz, first evaluate A r from Equation (17), the result is

cos r a cos d
A
ani

2
2
r
2 0 r a 2ar cos 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

(19)

(20)

Equations (17) and (19) are put into (2), the result is

1 rA
r r

a r cos d
ani
Bz

2
2
2 0 r a 2ar cos 2 r 2 a 2 2ar cos

Bz

Equations (18) and (20) describe the magnetic field

due to a finite solenoid. Numerical results can readily be
found by integrating these equations on a computer.
However, the result can also be expressed in terms of
standard elliptic integrals.
Br

1
ain
2 r a 2

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K k

1 2 k 2 sn 2udu

1 k 2 sn 2u

(21)

Br

ain

2
2 2
k r a

K k

2 1 k 2
2 k2
du

1 k 2 sn 2 u

(22)

Br

ni

E k
a 2 k2
K k

r 2k
k

(23)

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A. K. AL-SHAIKHLI

4ar

2 a r

319

In a similar manner, Bz Equation (20) can be reduced to standard elliptic integrals. First change the
variable of integration to t cos . There follows successively

(24)

ET AL.

t
t

ni 1
r

Bz

2
2
2
2
4 2ar 1 r a

2 r a
t 1 t
t
2ar

2ar

Bz

ni
2 a r

ni
Bz
4

2r
K 1

sn 2u
a
ar
du
k
r 0 1 4ar sn 2u
2

a r

(26)

[1,9-11]. For many purposes, it is convenient simply to

know the variation of the fields near the axis. As r 0 ,
Equations (23) and (27) reduce to the following expressions:

ni
a2r
Br
4 2 a2

k
a r , k
K k

a r
ar

tan 1

As before, k is given by Equation (24). The human

lambda function , k is tabulated in references

ni
Bz
4

ni

Bz

2
2 a2

32

4. Computer Implementation
Computer programs with the sequence of flow chart
which is shown in Figure 3 have been written in MATLAB package to implement the estimation of radial and
axial magnetic fields from Equations (23) and (27). Set
of normalized curves for a wide variety of solenoid parameters are obtained.

5. Comparison
The same data used by reference [12] are considered to
estimate the magnetic field strength for different number
of turns of solenoid. The filament carries current I at
distance h from the surface of slab. The magnetic field
strength at any point P along the surface of the slab can
be calculated. The conductor will produce a magnetic
field H on the surface, according to Amperes Law,

(29)

(30)

A convenient approximation for Bz, valid whenever

r a and accurate to 1 percent in this range, is

2 m 1 m

2k sin
m 1 2k

4

where m 1 k 1 k , k 1 k 2 .
Equation (31) reduces exactly to Equation (30) at
the axis. Equations (23) and (27) are readily written in
dimensionless form with the distances given in units of
the solenoid radius. Then Equations (23)-(30) still hold
but with 1, r a , a replacing a, r, , throughout.

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(27)

(28)

ar

(25)

(31)

equal to
Hp

he
I

he2 z 2

(32)

where z is the distance of point P along the load

measured from a point directly beneath the conductor
and, ho the effective height for a circular conductor
equal to:
ho h 2 a 2

(33)

Choice the values of distance z, the length of coil L,

the conductor radius a, the distance from surface to
slab h, the number of turns n and the current per unit
length I to estimate the magnetic field strength H,
from this calculation limited the set of curves which
compared with it. The calculated results are plotted and
compared with that obtained by this reference. A good
correlation between the two results is achieved, as can be
seen in Figures 4 and 5. The maximum deviation is
about 5%, for a coil of 30 turns and 4% of 40 turns.
This deviation is reduced when the number of turns
n of the coil is increased, and approaches to zero when
n equal to (2500) or more turns. The ratio of error is
shown in Figure 6.
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A. K. AL-SHAIKHLI

320

ET AL.

start

Input (L & a) of
Solenoid

I = 100

i=1

ZL = 0

ni

k
ar

ni

K (k )

Kar( k )

ni

Zl ++ H
H
ZlZl==Zl

ni

( a (a r) r )

2 - k
2k

r )

(a

( a r )
2

E(k)
K(k) k

, k )

( k )

Figure 4. Comparison of magnetic field strength H.

K
2 k

, k)

( k )

Calculate Magnetic Field

Bz & Br

i =i=i+1
i+1

No

If
i = 100
Yes

Plot Bz , r / a
Br, r / a

Figure 5. Comparison of magnetic field strength H.

END

Figure 3. Flow chart of the computer program.

6. The Use of Normalized Curve

The normalized data of a solenoid leads to estimate the
magnetic field strength, so the system behavior can be
obtained. Such result is very useful to designers and users in determining the best combination to be used in a
particular problem. The use of normalized curves is very
straightforward. To clarify the extraction of the required
information from such curves, the following may be considered as a helpful procedure:
1) Take the distance from origin z, the length of the
coil L, the radius of the coil a, number of turns n
and current per unit length I.
2) Calculate the ratio L/a, then use this value to assign the normalized figure associated with them.
3) Calculate the ratio 2z/L and use this value to assign the necessary curve. If there is no curve having exact value of 2z/L, interpolation may be needed by
imagining a curve lies between the nearest lower and
Copyright 2013 SciRes.

Figure 6. Error variation with number of turns.

upper values of 2z/L.

As an example, consider the same data used by reference [13] having dimensions L = 5 cm, a = 1 cm, z = 3
cm, r = 0.5 cm and B 0.0001 wb/m2 where B
nI . By following the previously mentioned procedure;
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A. K. AL-SHAIKHLI

ET AL.

321

L a 5 , 2 z L 1.2 , and r a 0.5 . From reference

the axial field Bz is 2300 wb/m2 and radial field Br is 950
wb/m2.

7. Discussion
Figures 7-12 show the dimensionless axial and radial
fields: 4 Bz ni , 4 Bz ni . Calculations were made
for the ratio of coil length to radius in the range of three
steps (1, 10 & 25), note that in Figures 7-12 the radial
distance is given in terms of the coil radius (r/a) and, the
axial distance is given in terms of the coil half-length
(2z/L), they clearly show that increasing solenoid length
decreases the radial variation of the axial field. This result is expected since an infinitely long solenoid has a
uniform field throughout. For short solenoid lengths, the
axial field increases rapidly from the center to the edge
for positions near the center of the solenoid. In fact, at
the center the curve approaches very closely that for a
simple loop.
It should be noted that the radial field is always infinite at 2 z L 1 and r a 1 . This point corresponds to
the edge of the current sheet and would be expected to
produce such a result.

Figure 8. Dimensionless axial field of finite solenoid for (L/a

= 1).

8. Conclusions
1) The axial and radial magnetic field strength at any
point inside or outside a finite solenoid with infinitely
thin conductor is derived directly from the magnetic
vector potential.
2) A computer programs are written in MATLAB
package to plot the magnetic field strength of a finite
solenoid for different parameters, Heuman lambda function and complete elliptic integrals for first and second
kinds.

Figure 7. Dimensionless radial field of finite solenoid for

(L/a = 1).
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Figure 9. Dimensionless radial field of finite solenoid for

(L/a = 10).

Figure 10. Dimensionless axial field of finite solenoid for

(L/a = 10).
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A. K. AL-SHAIKHLI

ET AL.

tion of 1% which can be achieved over as much as 60%

of the internal volume of the solenoid if the length is 25
radii or greater.

REFERENCES
[1]

F. H. Faris, The Magnetic Field Study of a Finite Solenoid, M.S. Thesis, University of Technology, 2005.

[2]

D. E. Mapother, The Axial Variation of the Magnetic

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[3]

B. Mason, Designs for Transverse, Super Conducting

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[4]

F. Kh. Abood, Design and Implementation of an Experimental Coil Gun System, M.S. Thesis, University of
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[5]

J. Novickij, S. Balevieius, et al., Axial Magnetic Field

Measurment of Pulsed Solenoids, Elektronika IR Elektrotechnika, 2004, pp. 1392-1215.
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W. T. Scott, The Physics of Electricity and Magnetism,

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1959.

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D. E. Mapother and J. N. Snyder, The Axial Variation of

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K. Foelsch, Magnetic Field and Induktivitaet Einer Zylindrischen Spule, Archiv fr Elektrotechnik, Vol. 30, No.
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[9]

P. F. Byrd and M. D. Friedman, Handbook of Elliptic

Integrals for Engineers and Physicists, Springer-Verlag,
Berlin, 1954.

Figure 11. Dimensionless radial field of finite solenoid for

(L/a = 25).

Figure 12. Dimensionless axial field of finite solenoid for

(L/a = 25).

3) The calculated results of magnetic field strength are

plotted and compared with a reliable reference and a
good correlation was achieved, the difference between
two results is reduced when the number of turns n of
the coil is increased i.e. the conductor radius decreases
for constant radius value of a solenoid.
4) The general form of result leads to a quick study of
various parameters which determines the system behavior containing a solenoid, uniform fields with total varia-

Copyright 2013 SciRes.

[10] C. Heuman, Tables of Complete Elliptic Integrals,

Journal of Mathematical Physics, Vol. 20, 1941, pp. 127207.
[11] M. Abramowitz and I. A. Stegun, Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas, Graphs and Mathematical Tables, Dover Publications, New York, 1964.
[12] A. K. M. Al-Shaikhli, A Novel Method for the Design of
Induction Heating Work Coils, Ph.D. Thesis, Lounghborough University of Technology, Lounghborough, 1985.
[13] C. Thoma, Test of L.S.P. offAxis Magnetic Field Expansion in Cylindrical Coordinates, 2002.
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22/FastParametrization/thoma.pdf

CS