Computer Models of Hysteresis in Mechanical and Magnetic Components

There is a strong analogy between mechanical structural elements and magnetic circuit components which can be extended to include hysteretic energy losses associated with yielding in mechanical systems and saturation in magnetic components. Procedures for developing finite state models of hysteretic components are presented using a small number of basic elements. Using bond graph techniques, it is shown that, when dual structural models are used, elements may be assembled in arbitrary numbers to achieve any desired accuracy without problems of derivative causality. The reason for the dual structure can be seen from physical reasoning. The shape of the hysteresis curve for magnetic materials generally requires more elements for a given degree of approximation than the shape of the typical mechanical hysteresis curve.