Eddy current crack detection capability assessment approach using crack specimens with differing electrical conductivity

摘要

Like other NDE methods, eddy current surface crack detectability is determined using probability of detection (POD) demonstration. The POD demonstration involves eddy current testing of surface crack specimens with known crack sizes. Reliably detectable flaw size, denoted by, a_(90/95) is determined by statistical analysis of POD test data. The surface crack specimens shall be made from a similar material with electrical conductivity close to the part conductivity. A calibration standard with electro-discharged machined (EDM) notches is typically used in eddy current testing for surface crack detection. The calibration standard conductivity shall be within +/- 15% of the part conductivity. This condition is also applicable to the POD demonstration crack set. Here, a case is considered, where conductivity of the crack specimens available for POD testing differs by more than 15% from that of the part to be inspected. Therefore, a direct POD demonstration of reliably detectable flaw size is not applicable. Additional testing is necessary to use the demonstrated POD test data. An approach to estimate the reliably detectable flaw size in eddy current testing for part made from material A using POD crack specimens made from material B with different conductivity is provided. The approach uses additional test data obtained on EDM notch specimens made from materials A and B. EDM notch test data from the two materials is used to create a transfer function between the demonstrated a_(90/95) size on crack specimens made of material B and the estimated a_(90/95) size for part made of material A. Two methods are given. For method A, a_(90/95) crack size for material B is given and POD data is available. Objective of method A is to determine a_(90/95) crack size for material A using the same relative decision threshold that was used for material B. For method B. target crack size a_(90/95) for material A is known. Objective is to determine decision threshold for inspecting material A.