Nondestructive inspection probe and method

摘要

A probe for detecting distortions in a material includes a probe body, a ferrite core in the probe body, an excitation coil encircling the ferrite core and adapted to generate eddy currents, further magnetic shielding surrounding the excitation coil, and at least one giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor disposed in magnetic field-communicating relationship with the excitation coil and off-center with respect to the excitation coil's axis.

主权项

1. A probe for detecting distortions in a material under test, comprising:
a probe body; an inner shield in said probe body; an outer shield in said probe body surrounding said inner shield; an excitation coil between said outer shield and said inner shield, the excitation coil to generate eddy currents; and giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors disposed in magnetic field-communicating relationship with said excitation coil and in spaced-apart relationships with respect to each other around an axis of the excitation coil, the GMR sensors comprising:
a first GMR sensor positioned such that a sensitive axis of the first GMR sensor has a parallel orientation with respect to an inspection surface of the material under test; anda second GMR sensor positioned such that a sensitive axis of the second GMR sensor has a perpendicular orientation with respect to the inspection surface of the material under test.