EMI Shielding Theory

Theory of Shielding is greatly different from the intrinsic transmitted across the boundary and
and Gasketing: impedance of the discontinuity, most supports a current in the metal as
of the energy will be reflected, and illustrated in Figure 2. The amount of
Fundamental Concepts very little will be transmitted across current flow at any depth in the shield,
A knowledge of the fundamental concepts the boundary. Most metals have an and the rate of decay is governed by
of EMI shielding will aid the designer intrinsic impedance of only milliohms. the conductivity of the metal and its
in selecting the gasket inherently best For low impedance fields (H dominant), permeability. The residual current
suited to a specific design. less energy is reflected, and more is appearing on the
All electromagnetic waves consist of two absorbed, because the metal is more opposite face is the one responsible for
essential components, a magnetic field, closely matched to the impedance of generating the field which exists on the
and an electric field. These two fields the field. This is why it is so difficult other side.
are perpendicular to each other, and the to shield against magnetic fields. On
direction of wave propagation is at right the other hand, the wave impedance Ei

angles to the plane containing these two of electric fields is high, so most of the
Et
components. The relative magnitude energy is reflected for this case. Jo
between the magnetic (H) field and the Consider the theoretical case of an
electric (E) field depends upon how far incident wave normal to the surface of
Jt

away the wave is from its source, and on a metallic structure as illustrated in
the nature of the generating source itself. Figure 1. If the conductivity of the metal Figure 2 Variation of Current Density with
The ratio of E to H is called the wave wall is infinite, an electric field equal Thickness for Electrically Thick Walls
impedance, Zw. and opposite to that of the incident Our conclusion from Figures 2 and 3
If the source contains a large current flow electric field components of the wave is is that thickness plays an important
compared to its potential, such as may generated in the shield. This satisfies role in shielding. When skin depth
be generated by a loop, a transformer, the boundary condition that the total is considered, however, it turns out
or power lines, it is called a current, tangential electric field must vanish that thickness is only critical at low
magnetic, or low impedance source. at the boundary. Under these ideal frequencies. At high frequencies, even
The latter definition is derived from the conditions, shielding should be perfect metal foils are effective shields.
fact that the ratio of E to H has a small because the two fields exactly cancel
The current density for thin shields is
value. Conversely, if the source operates one another. The fact that the magnetic
shown in Figure 3. The current density
at high voltage, and only a small amount fields are in phase means that the
in thick shields is the same as for
of current flows, the source impedance current flow in the shield is doubled.
thin shields. A secondary reflection
is said to be high, and the wave is occurs at the far side of the shield for
commonly referred to as an electric x
all thicknesses. The only difference
Ei Perfectly
field. At very large distances from the Conductive
with thin shields is that a large part
Plane z=0
source, the ratio of E to H is equal for of the re-reflected wave may appear
either wave regardless of its origination. E Hi
on the front surface. This wave can
Hr
When this occurs, the wave is said to be Er add to or subtract from the primary
a plane wave, and the wave impedance is reflected wave depending upon the
H
equal to 377 ohms, which is the intrinsic phase relationship between them. For
z y
impedance of free space. Beyond this this reason, a correction factor appears
point all waves essentially lose their in the shielding calculations to account
curvature, and the surface containing the Figure 1 Standard Wave Pattern of a
Perfect Conductor Illuminated by a for reflections from the far surface of a
two components becomes a plane instead Normally Incident, + X Polarized Plane thin shield.
of a section of a sphere in the case of a Wave
point source of radiation. A gap or slot in a shield will allow
Shielding effectiveness of metallic electromagnetic fields to radiate
The importance of wave impedance enclosures is not infinite, because the through the shield, unless the current
can be illustrated by considering what conductivity of all metals is finite. They continuity can be preserved across the
happens when an electromagnetic can, however, approach very large values. gaps. The function of an EMI gasket is
wave encounters a discontinuity. If the Because metallic shields have less than to preserve continuity of current flow in
magnitude of the wave impedance infinite conductivity, part of the field is the shield.
EMI Shielding Theory
Ei
If an air gap exists in the seam, the flow of The reflection term is largely
current will be diverted to those points or dependent upon the relative mismatch
Et areas which are in contact. A change in the between the incoming wave and the
Jo
direction of the flow of current alters the surface impedance of the shield.
Jt
current distribution in the shield as well as Reflection terms for all wave types
Current on in the gasket. A high resistance joint does have been worked out by others.3 The
Rereflection
front wall due
from rear wall not behave much differently than open equations for the three principal fields
to reflection
from rear wall seams. It simply alters the distribution of are given by the expressions:
Figure 3 Variation of CUrrent Density with
current somewhat. A current distribution R E = 353.6 + 10 log10 G (2)
Thickness for Electrically Thin Wall for a typical seam is shown in Figure 4. f 3µr12

If the gasket is made of a material

Lines of constant current flow spaced (
R H= 20 log 10 0.462
r1 √ Gf + 0.136r √ fGµ + 0.354) (3)
µ
1

at larger intervals indicate less flow of

identical to the walls of the shielded. R P = 108.2 + 10 log10 G x 10
6
current. It is important in gasket design (4)
enclosure, the current distribution µf
to make the electrical properties of the
in the gasket will also be the same where
gasket as similar to the shield as possible,
assuming it could perfectly fill the slot. R E, R H, and R P are the reflection terms for the
maintain a high degree of electrical electric, magnetic, and plane wave fields
(This is not possible due to mechanical
conductivity at the interface, and avoid air, expressed in dB.
considerations.)
or high resistance gaps. G is the relative conductivity referred to
The flow of current through a shield copper,

including a gasket interface is illustrated Shielding and

f is the frequency in Hz,

in Figure 4. Electromagnetic leakage Gasket Equations1 µ is the relative permeability referred to

free space,
through the seam can occur in two ways. The previous section was devoted to a
r1 is the distance from the source to the
First, the energy can leak through the physical understanding of the fundamental shield in inches.
material directly. The gasket material concepts of shielding and gasketing.
shown in Figure 4 is assumed to have The absorption term A is the same
This section is devoted to mathematical
lower conductivity than the material in for all three waves and is given by the
expressions useful for general design
the shield. The rate of current decay, expression:
purposes. It is helpful to understand the
therefore, is also less in the gasket. It is criteria for selecting the parameters of a (5)
apparent that more current will appear on shielded enclosure. A = 3.338 x 10Р3 x t õfG
the far side of the shield. where
In the previous section, it was shown that
A is the absorption or penetration loss
Lines of electromagnetic waves incident upon a expressed in dB, and t is the thickness
constant current discontinuity will be partially reflected, and of the shield in mils.
σg < σm partly trans- mitted across the boundary
and into the material. The effectiveness The factor B can be mathematically
Metal Shield of the shield is the sum total of these two positive or negative (in practice it
effects, plus a correction factor to account is always negative), and becomes
Ei
for reflections from the back surfaces insignificant when A>6 dB. It is usually
Et
of the shield. The overall expression for only important when metals are thin,
shielding effectiveness is written as: and at low frequencies (i.e., below
approximately 20 kHz).
Gasket

S . E. = R + A + B ( 1) B (in dB) = 20 log10 (6)

where 1– ( (K – 1) 2
(K + 1) 2 ) ( 10 ) (e )
–A/10 –j.227A

S.E. is the shielding effectiveness expressed in dB,

2 where
Figure 4 Lines of Constant Current Flow
R is the reflection factor expressed in dB, A = absorption losses (dB)
Through a Gasketed Seam
This increased flow causes a larger A is the absorption term expressed in dB, and K = Z S /Z H = 1.3(µ/fr2G)1/ 2

leakage field to appear on the far side B is the correction factor due to reflections from
Z S = shield impedance
of the shield. Second, leakage can occur the far boundary expressed in dB. Z H = impedance of the incident
at the interface between the gasket and magnetic field

the shield.
References
1. Much of the analysis discussed in this section was performed by Robert B. Cowdell, as published in Nomograms Simplify Calculations of Magnetic Shielding Effectiveness” EDN, page 44, September 1, 1972.
2. Shielding Effectiveness is used in lieu of absorption because part of the shielding effect is caused by reflection from the shield, and as such is not an absorption type loss.
3. Vasaka, G.J., Theory, Design and Engineering Evaluation of Radio-Frequency Shielded Rooms, U.S. Naval Development Center, Johnsville, Pa., Report NADC-EL-54129, dated 13 August, 1956
EMI Shielding Theory
The preceding equation was solved in two A gasket placed 300
parts. A digital computer was programmed transverse to the flow of See text details and correction for thin sheets
Shielding effectiveness = absorption + reflection loss
Copper
Iron
to solve for B with a preselected value of current is less effective 1 2 Absorption loss per mil
thickness
Copper
σ =1
250 µ=1
A, while I K I varied between 10–4 and 103. than one placed parallel 3
3 4 Reflection loss – Electric fields Iron
σ = .17
The results are plotted in Figure 9. to the flow of current. 5 6 Reflection loss – Plane waves µ = 200

200 8 Reflection loss – Magnetic fields

A circularly polarized
7
The nomograph shown in Figure 8 was 4

designed to solve for I K I in equation (6). wave contains equal

LOSS (dB)
Note that when ZH becomes much smaller vertical and horizontal
150
5

than ZS (K>1), large positive values of B compo- nents, so

may result. These produce very large and gaskets must be 100 6

unrealistic computed values of S.E., and equally effective

imply a low frequency limitation on the B in both directions. 50 7
2 8

equation. In practical cases, absorption Where polarization is 1

losses (A) must be cal culated before B can unknown, gasketed 0

be obtained.1 junctions must be 100Hz 1kHz 10kHz 100kHz 1MHz 10MHz 100MHz 1GHz 10GHz
FREQUENCY

A plot of reflection and absorption loss designed and tested for

the worse condition; Figure 5 Shielding Effectiveness of Metal Barriers
for copper and steel is shown in Figure
5. This illustration gives a good physical that is, where the flow
representation of the behavior of the of current is parallel to
component parts of an electromagnetic the gasket seam.
wave. It also illustrates why it is so much Nomographs Magnetic Field Reflection – Figure 7:
more difficult to shield magnetic fields The nomographs presented in Figures To determine magnetic field reflection
than electric fields or plane waves. Note: 6 through 9 will aid the designer in loss RH:
In Figure 5, copper offers more shielding determining absorption and magnetic a. Locate a point on the G/µ scale for
effectiveness than steel in all cases except field reflection losses directly1. one of the metals listed. If the
for absorption loss. This is due to the These nomographs are based on the metal is not listed, compute G/µ
high permeability of iron. These shielding equations described in the previous and locate a point on the numerical
numbers are theoretical, hence they are section. scale.
very high (and unrealistic) practical values. b. Locate the distance between the
Absorption Loss – Figure 6:
If magnetic shielding is required, Given a desired amount of absorption energy source and the shield on the
particularly at frequencies below 14 kHz, loss at a known frequency, determine r scale.
it is customary to neglect all terms in the required thickness for a known c. Place a straight-edge between r
equation (1) except the absorption term metal: and G/µ and locate a point
A. Measurements of numerous shielded on the unmarked X scale (Example:
a. Locate the frequency on the f scale r =10 inches for hot rolled steel).
enclosures bears this out. Conversely, if
and the desired absorption loss on d. Place a straight-edge between the
only electric field, or plane wave protection
the A scale. point on the X scale and the desired
is required, reflection is the important
factor to consider in the design. Place a straight-edge across these frequency on the f scale.
points and locate a point on the e. Read the reflection loss from the
The effects of junction geometry, contact RH scale. (For f = 10 kHz, RH = 13
unmarked X scale (Example: A = 10
resistance, applied force and other factors dB).
dB, f =100 kHz).
which affect gasket performance are f. By sweeping the f scale while
discussed in the design section which b. Pivot the straight-edge about the
holding the point on the X scale, RH
follows. point on the unmarked X scale to
versus frequency can be obtained.
various metals noted on the G x µ
(For f = 1 kHz, RH = 3.5 dB).
Polarization Effects scale. A line connecting the G x µ
(Note that thickness is not a factor
Currents induced in a shield flow scale and the point on the unmarked
in calculating reflection losses.)
essentially in the same direction as the scale will give the required thickness
electric field component of the inducing on the t scale. (Example: for copper
wave. For example, if the electric t = 9.5 mils, cold rolled steel t = 2.1
component of a wave is vertical, it is known mils). Some care must be exercised
as a vertically polarized wave, and it will in using these charts for ferrous
cause a current to flow in the shield in a materials because µ varies with
vertical direction. magnetizing force.
EMI Shielding Theory

Figure 6 Absorption Loss Nomograph¹ Figure 7 Magnetic Field Reflection Loss Nomograph, RH¹

A = 5.0 dB
0 A = 6.0 dB

A = 3.0 dB A = 4.0 dB

-5 A = 2.0 dB

A = 1.5 dB
1 kHz
B in dB

-10 A = 1.0 dB
A = .8 dB

A = .6 dB
-15

A = .4 dB
|K| = 1.3[µ/fr2G]1/2
-20

A = .2 dB |K| = 2.2 x 10 -2
-25
10 -4 10 -3 10 -2 10 -1 1
|K|
Figure 8 Magnetic Field Secondary Reflection loss
Figure 9 Solving for Secondary Reflection loss (B)¹
Factor Nomograph¹

Magnetic Field Secondary Reflection a. Draw a line between copper c. At its intersection with the I K I
Losses I K I Figures 8 and 9: on the G/µ scale and r = 2 scale, read I K I = 2.2 x 10–2.
To determine the magnetic field inches on the “source to shield d. Proceed to Figure 9.
secondary reflection loss factor I K I distance scale.” Locate a point e. On Figure 9, locate I K I = 2.2 x
to solve for B: on the X scale. 10–2 on the horizontal scale.
Given: r = 2 inches for 0.0162 in. b. Draw a line from the point on f. Move vertically to intersect the
thick copper and A = 1.3 dB. the X scale to 1 kHz on the A = 1.3 curve (interpolate),
Find B at 1 kHz. f scale. and then horizontally to find
B = –8.5 dB.
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CHOMERICS is a registered trademark of Parker Hannifin Corporation. ® 2013 TB 1147 EN Reformatted Original document November 2000