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The eddy current inspection method

Part 2. The impedance plane and probes
J Hansen

The impedance plane

Eddy current responses of a single coil may be conveniently described by reference to the impedance plane. This is a graphical representation of the complex probe impedance where the abscissa (X value) represents the resistance and the ordinate (Y value) represents the inductive reactance see Figure 13.

Figure 14. Typical eddy current instrument and its display

This shows the display when moving over a series of simulated cracks of varying depths. Note that in the example shown, both the amplitude and the phase of response from the different-sized cracks varies.

Figure 13. Impedance plane diagram

Coil configurations
Appropriate coil selection is the most important part of solving an eddy current application; no instrument can achieve much if it does not get the right signals from the probe. Coil designs can be split into three main groups: q Surface probes used mostly with the probe axis normal to the surface. In addition to the basic pancake coil, this includes pencil probes and special-purpose surface probes such as those used inside a fastener hole. q Encircling coils that normally used for in-line inspection of round products. The product to be tested is inserted though a circular coil. q ID probes are normally used for in-service inspection of heat exchangers. The probe is inserted into the tube. Normally, ID probes are wound with the coil axis along the centre of the tube.
Insight Vol 46 No 6 June 2004

Note that, while the general form of the impedance plane remains the same, the details are unique for a particular probe and frequency. The display of a typical CRT eddy current instrument represents a window into the impedance plane, which can be rotated and zoomed to suit the needs of the application. For example, in the impedance plane diagram in Figure 13 a rotated detail of the probe on aluminium area would appear as Figure 14.
John Hansen, Hocking NDT Ltd, Inspec House, 129-135 Camp Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 5HL. UK. Tel: 01727 795509; Fax: 01727 795409; E-mail: jhansen@hocking.com; web: www.hocking.com

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These categories are not exhaustive and there are obviously overlaps, for example between non-circumferential wound ID probes and internal surface probes. Up to this point we have only discussed eddy current probes consisting of a single coil. These are commonly used in many applications and are commonly known as absolute probes because they give an absolute value of the condition at the test point. Absolute probes are very good for metal sorting and detection of cracks in many situations, however they are sensitive also to material variations, temperature changes etc. Absolute probes are usually circular and thus respond uniformly to defects regardless of orientation. Another commonly used probe type is the differential probe this has two sensing elements looking at different areas of the material being tested. The instrument responds to the difference between the eddy current conditions at the two points. Differential probes are particularly good for detection of small defects, and are relatively unaffected by lift-off (although the sensitivity is reduced in just the same way), temperature changes and (assuming the instrument circuitry operates in a balanced configuration) external interference. However, differential probes are directionally sensitive with a null occurring when both sensors pass over an identical area. Figure 15 shows a typical response from a differential probe. Note the characteristic figure of eight response, as first one probe element, then the other, move over the defect. In general, the closer the element spacing, the wider the loop in the signal, which is caused by the field from when element interfering with that of the other element.

Figure 16. Reflection probe configurations

Bridge Also known somewhat confusingly as differential. See Figure 17. The two coils (differential or absolute plus balancing coil) form the legs of a bridge. When the bridge is balanced the measured voltage will be zero. Any change in the condition of either coil will result in an unbalanced bridge, the degree of imbalance corresponds to the change in coil impedance. When one coil is used as a sensor and the other acts as a balancing load (and may be positioned in the instrument or in the probe away from the test surface) this is an absolute probe in response but differentially connected.

Figure 15. Differential probe

Lift-off should be cancelled out assuming that the probe is perfectly balanced, but there will still be a wobble response as the probe is moved and tilted slightly. Reflection, or driver pick-up probes have a primary winding driven from the oscillator and one or more sensor windings connected to the measurement circuit. Depending on the configuration of the sensor windings, reflection probes may give a response equivalent to either an absolute or differential probe see Figure 16. Main advantages of reflection probes are: q Driver and pick-up coils can be separately optimised for their intended purpose. q Wider frequency range than equivalent bridge connected probes. q The larger driver coil gives a more even field, resulting in better penetration and lift-off characteristics. All the coils in a probe need not necessarily be wound together but may be separate elements for instance, such as: q in sliding probes (with separate transmit and receive elements) which achieves wider coverage and hence more rapid scans q the Hocking FastScan probe, where a large drive coil is used to produce a large field and four small coils are configured differentially to give a high signal-to-noise.

Figure 17. Bridge-type coil connection

Reflection Also known as driver pick-up, transmit receive or transformer connected. See Figure 18. Here the coils are connected with one coil acting as a drive (or transmitter) and one or two coils acting as pick-ups (or receivers). As can be seen the essential elements are the same for a driver pick-up configuration as for a bridge, the necessary changes can be achieved by simple switching or probe connection changes. In fact, by connection of two resistors and providing the amplifier input is differential, then a reflection configuration can be made into a bridge connection.

Typical coil connections

Modern eddy current equipment now uses two methods for coil connection, namely bridge or reflection.

Figure 18. Reflection-type coil connection

Next months article in this series will deal with instrumentation and applications.

Insight Vol 46 No 6 June 2004

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