Skin Depth Calculator

Numerical inputs are not error trapped.

Skin Depth of microstrip - RF Cafe This JavaScript skin depth calculator takes as inputs the frequency, resistivity (ρ), and relative permeability (μ_r). Calculated values do not change until the "Calculate" button is clicked.

It uses the standard textbook equation to compute the skin depth. An explanation can be found here.

Skin depth equation formula - RF Cafe

Skin Depth of round wire - RF Cafe Since data sources for materials properties typically present permeability in term of relative permeability (μ_r), that is what is used for input in the calculator.

Most typical materials used for signal and power carrying cables - e.g., copper, aluminum - have a relative permeability of 1. Materials with magnetic properties such as steel and iron have relative permeabilities ranging from hundreds to hundreds of thousands.

Here is a table of materials with values.

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Kirt Blattenberger,

BSEE - KB3UON

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a nice lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...

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