Eddy Current Inspection

Non-destructive testing can perform measurements or tests on materials

without damaging or altering those materials. There are several types of non-
destructive testing methods, including x-ray, ultrasonic testing methods,
magnetic particle testing, dye penetrant testing, acoustic emission testing and
Eddy Current Testing.
In this course we shall examine the Eddy Current principle. Eddy
Currents are circulating electrical currents and they can only be generated in
materials that will conduct electricity. Consequently, eddy current testing is
used exclusively for tests and measurements on metals and for thickness
measurements of non-conductive materials backed by metals.

Applications
Eddy Current Testing is used
by several different industries to
perform various types of inspection.
The two largest applications for Eddy
Current are tube testing and aircraft
inspection.
Tube testing application include
the inspection of tubing in power
generating systems, air conditioning
systems and nuclear submarines for
hazardous conditions suck as cracks, pitting and tube wall thinning. The tests
are performed by passing an Eddy Current probe through the inside of the
tubing. As the result, this type of inspection is referred to as Inner Diameter
Inspection or simply, I.D. Inspection.
Aircraft applications include numerous different types or aircraft
structures and engines. Typical examples are inspection of aircraft engine and
airframe components for very small surface cracks, inspections on aircraft
wings and fuselages for cracks located underneath rivet heads.
Inspection for defects through the multiple layers or aircraft surfaces and
inspecting for cracks on critical areas of aircraft wheel head seats-that portion
of the wheel rim where the tire makes contact with the wheel under
tremendous pressure.
Other applications include an enormous variety of tests that make use of
the many capabilities of the Eddy Current method.
Example include: thickness measurement of non-
metallic coatings, such as paint, on metal surfaces;
inspection of welds for surface cracks; the sorting of
metals according to characteristics such as alloy and
hardness; and high resolution thickness,
measurement.

Characteristics
The Eddy Current method has both its
advantages and its limitations.
The advantages are:
1. The equipment is usually easy to operate and much
of it is portable, lightweight and battery powered.
2. The method is virtually non-destructive. Non couplants, powders or other
physical substances are applied to the test material. The only link between the
probe and test material is a magnetic field. However, the operator is cautioned
against bringing the test probe near wristwatches, measuring instruments or
other devices which could be affected by an electromagnetic field.
3. The method is sensitive to a wide variety of test variables. Consequently, any
number of test variables can be measured providing that the other variables are
either separately identifiable or suppressed.
4. Test results are usually instantaneous. As soon as the test coil is applied to
the test specimen, a qualified operator can interpret the results.
5. Eddy current testing is ideal for go/no-go test situations. Audible and visual
alarms, triggered by threshold gates or box gates are available to provide high
speed test results.
6. There is no danger from radiation or other such hazards.

The limitations of Eddy Current Testing are:

1. The test material must be electrically conductive. However, it is possible to
measure the thickness of non-conductive coatings on conductive materials.
2. Eddy Currents normally cannot penetrate ferromagnetic materials.
Consequently, testing on ferromagnetic materials is limited to inspection of
surface defects only, unless the material has been magnetically saturated.
Moreover, magnetic saturation is limited to certain test geometrics.
3. Even on non-ferromagnetic materials the Eddy Current method has less
penetrating power than some of the other NDT methods.
4. In some cases, such as the interpretation of impedance plane displays, Eddy
Current Testing requires a trained operator.

For course registrations write us at sales@ndt-consultants.co.uk