Analysis of formation processes of informative features in eddy current probes with pulsed excitation mode

Abstract

The modern pulsed eddy current (EC) technique for flaw detection in structure inspections of aircraft and automotive elements, or other responsible constructions is typically carried out in aperiodic mode. At the same time, the unstable characteristic points of the EC signal usually used as informative parameters can restrict the potential of this excitation mode due to influence measurement errors. The article considers an application of the pulsed EC method of NDT based on the oscillatory mode. To obtain the conditions concerned with different modes of EC probe response oscillations, an equivalent scheme of the “testing object – EC probe” system was developed. The conditions represent the signal formation process and allow analyzing it for impedance and differential probes. The obtained mathematical model of the probe signals allowed for the dependence of proposed signal parameters on the characteristics of the testing object to be evaluated due to simulation. According to this, the frequency and attenuation coefficient of natural oscillations are proposed as the informative parameters. Also, the simulation results are used for developing enhanced algorithmic software for determining and analyzing the EC signals. The proposed informative parameters are experimentally investigated using a set of specimens. The obtained experimental and simulation results are correlated and it confirms the possibility of the proposed methodology to enhance the inspection procedures related to the specimen’s parameters measurements as well as the detected defect sizing.