Eddy Current Array Probes

With Civa 2016, many improvements have been made in the description of Eddy Current array probes.

Indeed, it is possible to define this kind of sensor using an array probe editor, available by selecting the “Array probe” type.

For this kind of probes, one or more layers can be defined. Each layer can contain a different number of elements, and a different type of coil. The editor makes it possible to define all these parameters in a few clicks.

 

 

 

Wiring can be defined in several ways, such as “All elements on the same cable” or “One element by cable”, or even in a more complex way thanks to an expert mode giving access to a wiring editor.

The acquisition channels (common functions, separated functions) can be defined very easily by describing a basic pattern gathering the active coils together and their role (respectively driver coil, Pick-up coil, Driver-Pick-up). They will appear in the editor with a clearly identifiable color (respectively red, blue and pink). The electronic scanning can be defined on the whole sensor with a sequence editor (automatic or manual path). Several channels can be defined in a single simulation.

 

 

A mechanical scanning can be associated with the electronic trajectory.

 

 

The C-Scans enabling the visualization of the different channels are then defined.

One C-Scan per channel is available, other C-Scans can be added by the user before running the solving process.

The results corresponding to the defined C-Scans are available after the solving process.

 

 

 

Regarding the tube inspections, the “X-probe like” type of array probes can be defined. For this type of probe, the settings is predefined in the interface.

The probe can cover the whole tube’s circumference by selecting the 360° option, or only a part of the tube without this option.

 

 

 

The options available in this interface enable the user to quickly define the properties of the probe, for example:

• The general properties of the array probe (number of rings, number of elements per ring, distance between the rings, lift-off, …).
• Dimension of the coils which compose the probe.

 

 

• 3 patterns as well as the electronic scanning are defined automatically and can be seen from this dedicated interface (driving coil in red, pick-up coil in blue).

 

 

A mechanical scanning can also be associated with this array probe.

 

 

By default, two C-Scans are defined before the solving. Both channels can be analysed after the computation: one corresponds to an axial detection and includes both axial patterns, and the other corresponds to a transverse detection. If necessary, other C-Scans can be added by the user. After computation, the results are available for the different C-Scans which have been defined before running the solving process.