The objectives of this study are to develop a new inspection probe for complex structures using eddy current testing method (ECT), to establish the recognition technique of real ‰aw shape such as stress corrosion cracking (SCC), and to develop a rapid nondestructive inspection system. An ECT system consists of measurement and computational modules that are connected via a network circuit. The measurement module includes a ‰exible ECT sensor, which couldˆt on the curvature surface of radius larger than 25 mm with a mechanical manipulator. The computational module is used for SCC sizing. It includes a database of ECT signals that are used to execute numerical calculations. SCC sizing can be evaluated by comparing the measured ECT signals with the calculated ECT signals within the database. We have demonstrated that the system could be used to estimate the SCC length and depth sizing in 140 s. The accuracy of length sizing showed an RMS error of 3.7 mm and the depth sizing was 0.63 mm in this work.
Articles you may be interested inDevelopment of flexible array eddy current probes for complex geometries and inspection of magnetic parts using magnetic sensors AIP Conf.ABSTRACT. We developed a signal evaluation system of flexible array eddy current testing (ECT) probes for inspecting complexly shaped metal surfaces. Our probes employ excitation and pickup coil pairs arrayed on a bendable substrate to measure curved targets. Since the developed probes produce signals due to the change in the relative position between the coil pair, an evaluation module for flaw signal identification is integrated into the system. The identification utilizes signal phase combination of the coil pairs. It is represented as a two-dimensional diagram constituting the phase values of two of the coil pairs with different positions. The phase of signals around flaws is significantly affected by their orientations. The diagram is therefore capable of separating flaw information from other information and of imaging flaw positions. We applied the system to complex geometric mock-ups. Flaw signals were successfully identified and the images obtained for identified positions could be used to efficiently measure the length of surface flaws by the 12 decibel down method.
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