Apparatus and method for metallic constructions assessment

摘要

A device for discovering, identification and monitoring of mechanical flaws in metallic structures is disclosed, based on magneto-graphic/magnetic tomography technique to identify stress-related defects. The device includes registration means that optimized for use with metallic structures of various types, shapes and sizes. Applications include a real-time quality control, monitoring and emergency alarms, as well structural repairs and maintenance work recommendations and planning. Examples of the device implementation include pipes for oil and gas industry monitoring, detection of flaws in rolled products in metallurgical industry, welding quality of heavy duty equipment such as ships, reservoirs. etc. It is especially important for loaded constructions, such as pressured pipes, infrastructure maintenance, nuclear power plant monitoring, bridges, corrosion prevention and environment protection.

主权项

1. A device for discovering, identification and monitoring of mechanical defects in metallic structures, comprising:
an electromagnetic pulse generator, said generator irradiating a part of the metallic structure with electromagnetic radiation; a sensor array registering a response of the part of the metallic structure on the irradiated electromagnetic radiation; the sensor array located in proximity of the structure, performing magnetic field distribution measurement of the metallic structure and producing a sensor signal; an analogue-to-digital converter digitizing the sensor signal; a calculation unit receiving the digitized signal, the calculation unit uses the inverse magnetostrictive effect, the effect of changing of material magnetic susceptibility under applied mechanical stress, the changing of magnetic susceptibility resulting in gradient distribution of the magnetic field along an area of the structure that has a magnetic field anomaly, the distribution of magnetic field gradient providing an information about a presence and a value of the magnetic field anomaly at the given location of the structure and a mechanical stress, corresponded to said anomaly; and the calculation unit calculating an absolute value of the mechanical stress around the anomaly, thus unveiling a mechanical defect of the structure and characterizing it.