Study and comparison of pulse compression techniques with three types of excitation for high-temperature EMAT detection

Abstract

To address the low conversion efficiency and high ultrasonic attenuation in the detection of hot castings and forgings, the pulse compression technique (PCT) is an important and efficient method for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and range resolution of ultrasonic echoes. A finite element model was established for the process of detection using a spiral coil electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) with three types of excitation, these being chirp signals, Barkercoded signals and combined Barker-coded signals, and the PCT processions were also provided. The SNR and range resolution of the PCTs with three types of excitation were compared using simulations and verified by experiments. The self-developed and water-cooled EMAT with three PCTs was used to measure a high-temperature forging and the pulse compression effect was also compared. The results indicate that the PCT with Barker-coded excitation has the highest SNR and the PCT with chirp excitation and combined Barker-coded excitation processes a higher range resolution. When the tested forging is at 710°C and compared with the traditional tone-burst excitation, the SNR from the PCT with combined Barker-coded excitation can be improved by 8.5 dB and the ultrasonic echo width can be reduced by 100%.