Specialists from the Siberian State University of Railway Transport (SGUPS) have patented a method for non-destructive testing of metal parts and structures. The method allows for quick and accurate detection of cracks, as well as determining their depth – even if the damages are located very close to each other.
The development is based on eddy current testing. A sensor scans the metal surface and analyzes changes in the electromagnetic field. If there is a crack, the signal changes. The problem is that when there are several cracks close to each other, their signals overlap, making it difficult to measure the depth of each. The authors found a way to separate these signals and accurately determine the parameters of each defect.
First, the equipment is calibrated on reference samples with real cracks. Then, the part under inspection is scanned, and the signal peaks are recorded. Knowing the width of the zone in which the sensor "feels" the crack, it is possible to determine the distance between defects and calculate their depth using a special calibration scale.
The technical result is an increase in the reliability and speed of control. The development can be applied in the diagnostics of rails, pipelines, machine parts, and other metal structures where it is important to detect hidden defects in time.
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