Pulsed Eddy Current Nondestructive Testing for Defect Evaluation and Imaging of Automotive Lightweight Alloy Materials

Abstract

Rapid and accurate damage detection of magnesium-aluminum alloy, which is an important material for automotive lightweight, is of great significance. Pulsed eddy current (PEC) is an effective electromagnetic nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) technique for metal materials. Metal loss evaluation and imaging are one of the most important steps in quality control and maintenance of key components of automobiles. A PEC method based on a rectangular excitation coil and an axial parallel pickup coil is proposed and investigated for the purpose of metal loss evaluation and imaging. Metal loss type of defects with different sections is designed and detected using line scanning technique and C-scan imaging in two scanning directions. Experimental results have illustrated that metal loss depth can be estimated effectively by the peak amplitude of PEC A-scan response. Then, the quantification information of metal loss depth is preliminarily obtained based on the linear fitting equation. Consequently, metal loss evaluation is realized by line scanning peak waves and C-scan pseudo 3D images. At last, the sensitivity comparison shows that the metal loss can be detected in both directions. The proposed method is an effective approach to evaluate the image surface-breaking metal loss in automotive lightweight alloy materials.

Improving Quality Control of Siluminial Castings Used in the Automotive Industry

“…The importance of NDT in automotive technology is particularly important also due to the relatively low values of safety factors determined when designing automotive structures [21,22]. The analysis of publications related to the inspection of piston castings indicates that attempts are made to use single non-destructive testing (e. g. The following parameters are available: X-ray [11], ultrasound [20,23,24], infrared thermography [14], eddy currents [25]), depending on the purpose, construction and dimensions of the pistons. Therefore, it is advisable to develop a sequential method to control piston castings.…”

Shape Mapping Detection of Electric Vehicle Alloy Defects Based on Pulsed Eddy Current Rectangular Sensors

“…The direction of magnetic flux was parallel to the x-axis while the direction of the excitation current was parallel to the y-axis [37]. Here, defect shape mapping experiments were carried out in both directions [23].…”

“…Therefore, it is widely used not only for the measurement of the conductivity and thickness of metal [13], but also in defect characterization [14][15][16][17][18]. In fact, this nondestructive testing method can not only detect the surface defects and subsurface defects of stainless steel materials [19], but also of nonferrous metal materials such as aluminum, magnesium and its alloy materials [20][21][22][23][24], and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) [25].…”

“…In 2012, a study showed that a rectangular sensor can induce a uniform eddy current on aluminum plates and that the size of a crack can be quantitatively detected by analyzing the three signals (Bx, By, and Bz) [38]. The author and his team proposed a PEC method based on a rectangular excitation coil (REC) and an axial parallel pickup coil for metal loss evaluation and imaging [23,39]. This article is the continuation and expansion of the original research.…”

Многопараметровый Контроль Многослойных Структур Импульсным Вихретоковым Методом

“…Однако существующие методики вихретокового контроля [7][8][9], как правило, позволяют производить количественное определение не более трех типов повреждений структуры многослойного материала: расслоения, трещины (или пористость) и коррозия, что в ряде случаев может оказаться недостаточным для комплексного анализа состояния конкретного объекта. Более того, для многослойных структур, содержащих магнитные слои, предлагаемые методики в принципе не позволяют проводить раздельное определение параметров.…”