The AC current density radial distribution is calculated on heterogeneous composite materials with cylindrical geometry. The composites have an inner core and thin outer shell that can be either from the same material (homogenous material like simple wires) or from different materials with different physical properties. The case in which a non-magnetic inner core is surrounded by a magnetic layer, like electrodeposited wires, is mainly studied. The effect of frequency and applied magnetic field is simulated. The current density distribution as a function of frequency and applied field, as well as the total current over the inner core and outer shells are calculated. The results agree substantially well with the experimentally observed data for simple electrodeposited wires. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.2491-21621Landau, L., Lifshtz, L.E., Pitaevskii, L.P., (1995) Electrodynamics of Continuous Media, 2nd Edition, p. 208. , Butterworth-Heinemann, Stoneham, MAMénard, D., Britel, M., Ciureanu, P., Yelon, A., (1998) J. Appl. Phys., 84 (5), p. 2805Sinnecker, J.P., García, J.M., Asenjo, A., Vázquez, M., García-Arribas, A., (2000) J. Mater. Res., 15 (3), p. 751Sinnecker, J.P., Knobel, M., Pirota, K.R., Garcia, J.M., Asenjo, A., Vázquez, M., (2000) J. Appl. Phys., 87 (9), p. 4825Kraus, L., (2000) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 195, p. 764Ménard, D., Melo, L.G.C., Britel, M.R., Ciureanu, P., Yelon, A., Rouabhi, M., Cochrane, R.W., (2000) J. Appl. Phys., 87 (9), p. 4801Ménard, D., Yelon, A., (2000) J. Appl. Phys., 88 (1), p. 379Weng Cho Chew, (1995) Waves and Fields in Inhomogenous Media, , IEEE Press, New YorkMeeker, D., (2001) Finite Element Method Magnetic, , http://hometown.aol.com/gmagnetics/download.htm