Structural optimization of planar electromagnetic sensor based on response surface

Abstract

The planar electromagnetic sensor has been used to detecting the defects of metallic material in the near-surface. The sensor performance is typically described based on intensity, sensitivity and spatial resolution. These factors all depend on sensor structural parameters. This study is to find optimum structural parameters of the planar electromagnetic sensor using Response Surface Method (RSM) and the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The width of the driving winding, the width of the sensing winding, the space between the driving and sensing winding, the self-spacing of the sensing winding and the winding length are chosen as structural design parameters. The second-order response surface model of the relationship among the structural parameters and the sensor performance indexes is established based on the finite element model simulation. By utilizing the satisfaction function, the multi-objective optimization design problem can be converted into a single-objective problem. The optimal solution of the model is achieved by utilizing the genetic algorithm and the optimal parameters of the sensor are determined. The planar electromagnetic sensor is fabricated by Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) technology. The results show that the sensor can measure the metal effectively.