Abstract
We present a semi‐analytical model for the quantitative investigation of the electromagnetic fields inside an infinitely long solenoid of rectangular cross section with planar laminated core comprised of interlaid dielectric and magnetic sheets. The model is based on a mathematical formulation of the electromagnetic boundary value problem inside the core as the superposition of two boundary value problems, one amenable to a closed‐form solution using separation of variables, and one amenable to a physics‐driven approximation in terms of an auxiliary problem that also lends itself to a closed‐form solution. The understanding of the underlying physics that is responsible for field penetration inside the laminate core beyond the limits imposed by the skin effect in homogeneous magnetic cores is facilitated by the solutions of these two boundary value problems. The model lends itself to the expedient quantitative assessment of the impact of laminate composition and core dimensions on the per‐unit‐length inductance and resistance of the solenoid and their variation with frequency. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.