Remote-field eddy current signal representation : Atherton, D.L.; Mackintosh, D.D.; Sullivan, S.P.; Dubois, J.M.S.; Schmidt, T.R. Materials Evaluation, Vol. 51, No. 7, pp. 782–789 (Jul. 1993)

Abstract

While conventional reflected impedance eddy current testing (ET) techniques are limited by skin depth considerations to near surface defects, the RFEC (remote field eddy current) technique exploits skin effects. The RFEC method is a through-wall inspection technique. Only the field which has made a double transit of the pipe wall is detected. The skin depth equation can be used to predict the approximate effect of metal loss on the RFEC signal. Metal loss effectively reduces the shielding so that the attenuation and phase lag of the field is less. A method of analyzing RFEC defect signals is therefore to compare the signals with the phase and amplitude in uncorroded pipe. RFEC probes are used for inspecting ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic tubulars for corrosion and, since eddy current detectors are generally well suited to crack detection, there is considerable interest in their potential to detect stress corrosion cracking in pipelines. Here the authors first of all summarize the impedance plane representation and scope monitor displays customarily used for conventional exploring coil ET probes in tubes. They then present the normalized voltage plane and monitor displays that are most appropriate for RFEC probes. They discuss the similarities and differences between the preferred monitormore » displays.« less