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Wheeler incremental inductance rule

Wheeler incremental inductance rule is a engineering topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Wheeler incremental inductance rule rather than just read about it. In short: The incremental inductance rule, attributed to Harold Alden Wheeler by Gupta and others is a formula used to compute skin effect resistance and internal inductance in parallel transmission lines when the frequency is high enough that the skin effect is fully developed. Wheeler's concept is that the internal inductance of a conductor is the difference between the computed external inductance and the external inductan…

Wheeler incremental inductance rule — main illustration
Wheeler incremental inductance rule — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Wheeler incremental inductance rule belongs to engineering; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Wheeler incremental inductance rule to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Wheeler incremental inductance rule from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The incremental inductance rule, attributed to Harold Alden Wheeler by Gupta and others is a formula used to compute skin effect resistance and internal inductance in parallel transmission lines when the frequency is high enough that the skin effect is fully developed. Wheeler's concept is that the internal inductance of a conductor is the difference between the computed external inductance and the external inductance computed with all the conductive surfaces receded by one half of the skin depth.

Linternal = Lexternal(conductors receded) − Lexternal(conductors not receded). Skin effect resistance is assumed to be equal to the reactance of the internal inductance.

Rskin = ωLinternal. Gupta gives a general equation with partial derivatives replacing the difference of inductance.

L i n t = ∑ m μ m μ 0 ∂ L ∂ n m δ m 2 {\displaystyle L_{\mathrm {int} }=\sum _{m}\ {\frac {\mu _{m}}{\mu _{0}}}{\frac {\partial L}{\partial n_{m}}}{\frac {\delta _{m}}{2}}}

R s k i n = ∑ m R s m μ 0 ∂ L ∂ n m = ω L i n t {\displaystyle R_{\mathrm {skin} }=\sum _{m}\ {\frac {R_{\mathrm {s} m}}{\mu _{0}}}{\frac {\partial L}{\partial n_{m}}}=\omega L_{\mathrm {int} }}

where

∂ L ∂ n m {\displaystyle {\frac {\partial L}{\partial n_{m}}}} is taken to mean the differential change in inductance as surface m is receded in the nm direction.

R s m = ω μ m δ m 2 {\displaystyle R_{\mathrm {s} m}={\frac {\omega \mu _{m}\delta _{m}}{2}}} is the surface resistivity of surface m.

μ m = {\displaystyle \mu _{m}=} magnetic permeability of conductive material at surface m.

δ m = {\displaystyle \delta _{m}=} skin depth of conductive material at surface m.

n m = {\displaystyle n_{m}=} unit normal vector at surface m. Wadell and Gupta state that the thickness and corner radius of the conductors should be large with respect to the skin depth. Garg further states that the thickness of the conductors must be at least four times the skin depth. Garg states that the calculation is unchanged if the dielectric is taken to be air and that L = Z c / V p {\displaystyle L=Z_{\mathrm {c} }/V_{\mathrm {p} }} where Z c {\displaystyle Z_{\mathrm {c} }} is the characteristic impedance and V p {\displaystyle V_{\mathrm {p} }} the velocity of propagation. Paul, 2007, disputes the accuracy of R s k i n = ω L i n t {\displaystyle R_{\mathrm {skin} }=\omega L_{\mathrm {int} }} at very high frequencies for rectangular conductors such as stripline and microstrip due to a non-uniform distribution of current on the conductor. At very high frequency, the current crowds into the corners of the conductor.

Example In the top figure, if

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Wheeler incremental inductance rule: Stripline illustrating the incremental Wheeler inductance rule.
Stripline illustrating the incremental Wheeler inductance rule.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Wheeler incremental inductance rule

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Wheeler incremental inductance rule claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In engineering, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Wheeler incremental inductance rule before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Wheeler incremental inductance rule ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Wheeler incremental inductance rule

In research
Wheeler incremental inductance rule appears in engineering research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Wheeler incremental inductance rule in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Wheeler incremental inductance rule is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Distributed element circuits, Signal cables, Telecommunications engineering, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Wheeler incremental inductance rule outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Wheeler incremental inductance rule in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Wheeler incremental inductance rule means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Wheeler incremental inductance rule out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Wheeler incremental inductance rule in simple terms?

The incremental inductance rule, attributed to Harold Alden Wheeler by Gupta and others is a formula used to compute skin effect resistance and internal inductance in parallel transmission lines when the frequency is high enough that the skin effect is fully developed. Wheeler's concept is that the…

Why does Wheeler incremental inductance rule matter?

Because it connects several engineering ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Wheeler incremental inductance rule?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Wheeler incremental inductance rule.

Tags

  • Distributed element circuits
  • Signal cables
  • Telecommunications engineering
  • Transmission lines

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