Depth sizing of intergranular attack with multi-frequency analysis of eddy current data

Abstract

Depth sizing of intergranular attack (IGA) with conventional eddy-current analysis is difficult, and typically gives results of poor accuracy. This paper presents a sizing technique using multi-frequency analysis for bobbin probe and X-Probe eddy-current data, along with a case study of outer-surface IGA in 0.510" (12.95 mm) diameter, 0.044" (1.12 mm) wall Alloy 600 tubing. A mathematical framework for the expected eddy-current phase and amplitude response is provided. Using this formulation, eddy-current amplitude and phase responses at four inspection frequencies are calculated, and compared to the corresponding measured responses. IGA flaw geometry is approximated through the optimization of flaw parameters via a least-squares minimization of the residual from the comparison.