Flexible Magnetostrictive Probe Having Sensor Elements Without Permanent Magnets

摘要

A sensor for use in magnetostrictive testing of a structure. An array of sensor elements is attached to a flexible backing. Each sensor element has a thin strip made from magnetostrictive material, a first coil wrapped around the width of the strip and operable to provide a DC bias magnetic field, and a second coil wrapped around the width of the strip and operable for MsS generation and detection. Typically, the first coils of all strips are electrically connected to each other and the second coils of all strips are electrically connected to each other, to form two separate coil circuits. The probe may be wrapped around the circumference of a cylindrical structure, and used for magnetostrictive testing.

主权项

1. A probe for use in magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) testing of a structure, comprising:
a flexible backing; a number of sensor elements attached to the backing, each sensor element being substantially larger in length than in width, the sensor elements being attached to the backing in a side by side pattern, parallel to each other; each sensor element comprising a thin strip made from magnetostrictive material, a first coil wrapped around the width of the strip and operable to provide a DC bias magnetic field, and a second coil wrapped around the width of the strip and operable for MsS generation and detection; wherein the first coils of all strips are electrically connected to each other and the second coils of all strips are electrically connected to each other, to form two separate coil circuits, such that a combination of DC current in the first coil and time-varying current in the second coil causes guided waves to be generated in the strips, which guided waves, when positioned against the structure, travel to and are reflected by anomalies in the structure.