Abstract
Eddy-current inspection is the most suitable method for rapid boreside evaluation of steam generator tubing. However, small flaws can be masked by the effects of harmless variables, such as tube supports. To identify the critical properties accurately and reliably in the presence of extraneous signals caused by variations of unimportant properties, sufficient information is needed to identify harmful variations and reject harmless ones. For this reason we have been developing instrumentation capable of measuring both the amplitude and phase of the eddy-current signal at several different frequencies, as well as computer equipment capable of processing the data quickly and reliably. Our probes and test conditions are also computer-optimized. The most recent probe design embodies an array of small flat ''pancake'' coils and improves the detection of small flaws and the rejection of tube support signals. We have also experimentally verified the accuracy of our computer programs for calculating the signals produced by defects in tubing and are adapting our new IBM System 9000 computer to take and process the larger amounts of data required by additional variables, such as copper coating and intergranular attack.
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