Method and system for generating and receiving torsional guided waves in a structure

• US 7,821,258 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Ihi Southwest Technologies Inc. (IHI Corporation)
• Inventors: Vinogradov, Sergey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, KENNETH
• Application Number:
  US11/970,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 324/209, 324/217, 324/219, 324/220, 324/221, 324/228, 324/234, 324/235, 324/236, 324/237, 324/238, 324/239, 324/240, 324/262
• US Class Current: 324/240
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0425 Parallel to the surface, e.g. creep waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/82 for investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2412 using the magnetostrictive properties of the material to be examined, e.g. electromagnetic acoustic transducers [EMAT]; investigating the presence of flaws using eddy currents G01N27/90, magnetostrictive transducers B06B1/08, measuring magnetostrictive properties G01R33/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/32 Arrangements for suppressing undesired influences, e.g. temperature or pressure variations , compensating for signal noise

Abstract

A method is shown for magnetostrictive testing of structures using magnetostrictive techniques. A torsional guided wave is generated in the structure either directly, or through a magnetostrictive strip dry coupled or bonded to the structure. A permanent magnetic field is created by either permanent magnets or DC current for a permanent bias in a bias direction in the magnetostrictive strip and/or structure. By pulsing the magnetic field with an AC current pulse, a torsional guided wave will flow through the structure in the same direction as the permanent bias. By saturating the permanent magnetic field, a maximum torsional guided wave is reflected from defects in the structure to given an improved signal to noise ratio.

Claims

1. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure, said method comprising the following steps:

first creating a permanent magnetic field at a location in said structure, said permanent magnetic field having a constant bias direction;

applying a pulse of alternating current to an AC coil adjacent to said location;

second creating an alternating magnetic field pulse at said location from said pulse of said alternating current, said alternating magnetic field pulse being perpendicular to said constant bias direction and parallel to a surface of said structure;

generating a torsional guided wave from said alternating magnetic field pulse, direction of propagation of said torsional guided wave being in the same direction as said constant bias direction;

reflecting said torsional guided wave off said defects in said structure;

detecting said reflected torsional guided wave; and

processing said detected reflected torsional guided wave to determine size and/or location of said defects.

2. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 1 including a magnetostrictive strip dry coupled or bonded to said structure at said location.

3. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said first creating step is caused by DC current flow adjacent said magnetostrictive strip, yet perpendicular to said direction of propogation of said torsional guided wave, but parallel to said surface of said structure.

4. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said DC current flow is through a DC coil wound lengthwise around said magnetostrictive strip and said alternating current is through said AC coil wound perpendicular to said DC coil around said magnetostrictive strip.

5. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said applying step including generating said pulse in a pulse generator and transmitting said pulse via a transmitter to said AC coil.

6. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 5 wherein said detected reflected torsional guided wave is conditional in a signal conditioner, processed in a signal processor and analyzed in a signal analysis for said determination of said size and/or location of said defects.

7. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said magnetostrictive strip is in a circular configuration with a gap between ends thereof and said structure is tubular.

8. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 7 wherein said AC coil is wound around a short axis of said magnetostrictive strip.

9. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said AC coil is separated into a series of coils.

10. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said structure is tubular, said first creating step is with a large permanent magnet inside a circular shielding strip within a tubular structure, said large permanent magnet creating a magnetic bias lengthwise along said tubular structure, said second creating step being caused by said alternating current in said AC coil wound around a short axis of said shielding strip.

11. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure, said method comprising the following steps:

securing a magnetostrictive strip to said structure;

first creating a permanent magnetic field in said magnetostrictive strip, said permanent magnetic field having a constant bias direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said magnetostrictive strip;

applying a pulse of alternating current to an AC coil adjacent to said magnetostrictive strip;

second creating an alternating magnetic field pulse in said magnetostrictive strip from said pulse of said alternating current, said alternating magnetic field pulse being perpendicular to said constant bias direction and parallel to a surface of said structure;

generating a torsional guided wave in said magnetostrictive strip from said alternating magnetic field pulse, direction of propagation of said torsional guided wave being in the same direction as said constant bias direction;

transferring said torsional guided wave from said magnetostrictive strip to said structure;

reflecting said torsional guided waves off said defects;

receiving said reflected torsional guided wave; and

processing said received reflected torsional guided wave to determine size and/or location of said defects.

12. The method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 11 wherein said securing step is by dry coupling or bonding.

13. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 12 wherein said first creating step being with a series of permanent magnets for said permanent magnet field.

14. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 11 wherein said AC coil is wound around a short axis of said magnetostrictive strip prior to said securing step.

15. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 14 wherein said magnetostrictive strip is circular with a gap between the ends thereof and said structure is tubular.

16. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 15 wherein said first creating step is by DC current flowing through a DC coil wound around a longitudinal axis of said magnetostrictive strip and perpendicular to said AC coil.

17. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 11 wherein said first creating step is by a DC current flowing through a DC coil wound longitudinally around said magnetostrictive strip, but perpendicular to said AC coil, said winding occurring before said securing step.

18. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 17 wherein said pulse of said alternating current is generated in a pulse generator and transmitted by a transmitter to said AC coil.

19. A method of nondestructive testing of a structure using magnetostrictive techniques to determine defects in the structure as recited in claim 18 wherein said reflected torsional guided wave is conditioned in a signal condition, processed in signal processor and analyzed in a signal analysis for said determination of said size and/or location of said defects.