EDDY CURRENT TESTING
A NEW BEGINNING
By: Jabran Younas
Applications
Metal Alloy sorting Insulation Cracks
thickness Thickness Seams
Heat treat Porosity
condition Nonmetallic Corrosion
coating Erosion
Heat damage thickness
Segregation
vibration
Inclusion
Diameter of
Plating
tubing or bar
thickness
stock
Cladding
Thickness
Resistance Inductive Reactance Impedance
R 2
X L
2
Z 2
Ohm's Law
R=ρL/A
Resistivity (Ohm-cm)
Conductivity (mho or % IACS)
Ohm's Law
Faraday Law
Ohm's Law
Faraday Law
Є emf= NΔφ
Δt
Єemf=Induced emf
N= Number of Turns
Δφ= Change in Flux
Ohm's Law
Faraday Law
Lenz’s Law The direction of induced current is such
as to oppose the cause producing it.
Ohm's Law B=μo/2π x I/r
Faraday Law
Lenz’s Law
Biot Savart’s
Law
Coils Coils
AC
Coils Magnetic Field
Coils
Coils Coils
Coils Magnetic Field
Coils Magnetic Field
Eddy Currents Eddy
Magnetic Field Currents
Conducting Material Conducting Material
Crack Detection
Magnetic Field
From Test Coil
Magnetic Field
From
Eddy Currents
Crack
Eddy Currents
Depth of Penetration & Skin Effect
• Eddy current density is greatest
at surface
• Reduces exponentially with depth
• At standard D of P = 1/e (37%)
of surface value
• δ = 50 ……ρ ….
μr f
Effect Of Frequency
Effect of conductivity
Effect of Permeability
Standard Depth
of
Depth
Depth
Penetration
(Skin Depth)
1/e or 37 %
of surface density
Eddy Current Density Eddy Current Density
High Frequency Low Frequency
High Conductivity Low Conductivity
High Permeability Low Permeability
Discontinuities
Crack parallel to eddy
Currents - not detected
Crack interrupts eddy
Currents - detected
Edge effect
• Edges produce signals
just like cracks and
mislead inspector
• Different techniques
can be used to avoid
edge effect
Inductive Coupling
Lift Off and Fill Factor
Usually, 70-90% "fill-factor" is targeted for reliable inspection
Phase Lag
Eddy Current Variables Comparison
A Typical ECT Instrument
Types of Probes
External
Surface Probe
Probe
Internal
Probe
Mode of 0peration
Absolute Differential
Sensitive to both sudden and Not Sensitive gradual changes
gradual changes in properties. in properties
Easy to interpret Difficult to interpret
Show total length of long flaws Detect only ends of long flaws
Sensitive to drift due to Less Sensitive to drift due to
temperature changes temperature changes
Sensitive to probe wobble Less Sensitive to probe wobble
Single Coil Pair of coils
Absolute value of impedance Changes in impedance or
and induced voltage is induced voltage is mesured
measured
Eddy Current Probes
Eddy Current Test Equipments
Digital Meter Analogue Meter
Multi-Freq Equipments
Calibration Standards
Testing Procedure
• Balance on sound portion
• Set Sensitivity (Drive Level & Gain)
• Set Frequencies
• Draw Calibration Curve
• Take signal with constant speed
• Note Phase lag and amplitude for each
indication
Effect of frequency on
signal
Effect of Frequency
44khz 22khz
5khz
Wobble Dent
Correct Speed
High Speed
Signal Filtering
Signal+ Noise Correct Filter is Incorrect Filter is
used used
Stripper
Thickness Monitoring
Methodology
Stripper Tube Signal
Selection of Frequency
Selection of Probe
Defect Sizing
10% OD
shown 36%
OD
Defect Sizing
60% changed
80% OD to 78% near
support
60% OD
Support
60% OD
80% OD
Defect Sizing
Wrong Indications
RFT Theory
RFT Zones
RFT Signals
Effect of Support plate
Tube Inspection
Depth Curve
Shielding Effect
Magnet
Non
Magnetic
Strip
Card Board Magnetic
Strip
