Optimization of magnetic multilayered shields

In this paper a procedure for the optimization of multilayered shields for low-frequency magnetic fields is presented. The shield is optimized with respect to the total volume of the composing materials, being the magnetic flux density magnitude at test points in the shielded region smaller than a given threshold value. For simplicity, shields composed of two different materials only are considered. The number and thickness of the shield layers belong to the set of the control variables. Only one layer thickness at a time is allowed to vary. The procedure is repeated for the different multilayered shield configurations, starting from the single-layer ones for each material, until the optimum shield volume is reached.