Research of oscillation mode in automated pulsed eddy current testing systems

Abstract

The formation and analysis of eddy current probe signals obtained in pulsed excitation mode is considered. The proposed method of implementing pulsed eddy current testing with the formation of attenuating harmonic oscillations is more resistant to the effects of noise and interference that accompany the process of inspected object parameters evaluation. The equivalent scheme of the system “test object–eddy current probe” is developed and analyzed. The obtained mathematical model of the eddy current probe signals allowed proposing the natural frequency and the attenuation as informative signals parameters, which are determined from signals phase and amplitude characteristics. Developed algorithm and the proposed methodology was implemented for evaluation of eddy current signals parameters and related characteristics of testing objects. This method was experimentally verified on a series of different test specimens. The obtained results confirm the possibility to apply the proposed informative signals to solve some problems concerned with automated eddy current testing. The formation and analysis of eddy current probe signals obtained in pulsed excitation mode are considered. The proposed method of implementing pulsed eddy current testing with the formation of attenuating harmonic oscillations is more resistant to the effects of noise and interference that accompany the process of automated eddy current testing. The equivalent scheme of the system “test object–eddy current probe” is developed and analyzed. The obtained mathematical model of the eddy current probe signals allows proposing the natural frequency and the attenuation as informative signals parameters, which are determined from signal phase and amplitude characteristics. Methods of increasing the accuracy of determining the eddy current probe signals attenuation and frequency using trends of signals phase and amplitude characteristics are considered. The proposed signal processing method was verified by modeling the process of determining the eddy current probe signals attenuation and the frequency from the signal with Gaussian noise. Algorithmic and software were developed based on the simulation results and the proposed improved methodology was implemented for determining signals parameters and related parameters and characteristics of testing objects.