Representation of minor hysteresis loops of a silicon steel sheet using stop and play models

The capabilities of stop and play models to represent minor hysteresis loops of a silicon steel sheet are compared. Identification of stop and play models using only symmetric BH loops results in an inaccurate representation of minor loops, whereas identification using only first-order reversal curves from negative saturation yields inaccurate symmetric BH loops. A least-squares identification method, using both symmetric loops and first-order reversal curves from saturation, enables the play model to accurately represent minor loops including their hysteresis losses.