ECT Inspection Technique

Theory and General Concepts

Characteristics of the technique
 Suitable for nonferrous tubing such as SS304/316,
brass, titanium, Inconel, copper, copper-nickel, etc.
 Can detect pits, corrosion, erosion, and axial
cracking.
 Uses multiple frequencies for better analysis and
flaw sizing.
 The probe needs a good fill factor to remain
sensitive (about 0.85 to 0.9).
 Probe centering is important for uniform sensitivity
and a reduced lift-off signal.
 Very fast technique, up to 2 m/s pulling speed.
General concept
 Alternating currents injected into a coil, create a magnetic
field.
 When this coil is placed over a conductive part, opposed
alternating currents are generated; these are eddy currents.
 Defects in the part disturb the path of the eddy currents.
This disturbance can be measured by the coil.
Principal behind tube testing
 Two coils are excited with an AC current, producing a
magnetic field around them.
 The magnetic field penetrates the tube material and
generates opposing AC currents in the material. These
currents are called Eddy Currents.
 Any defects, which change the eddy current flow, change
the impedance of the coils in the probe.
 These changes in the impedance of the coils are measured
and used to detect defects in the tube.
Magnetic field

Eddy current
Skin depth effect
Eddy current strength
 The eddy current density in the
material is not constant. 37% 100%
0
 The density is greatest at the
surface (near the coil) and 

Depth
declines as it penetrates the
material.
 This is called the skin depth
effect.
 The “standard depth of High frequency Low frequency
penetration” is the depth where High conductivity Low conductivity
High permeability Low permeability
the eddy current density is at
37% of its surface value.
 This standard depth of
penetration is affected by:
– Frequency
– Conductivity
– Permeability
Impedance plane
Air Sound Defect
 A coil in air has an material material
impedance, which results
from resistance and
reactance.
 If the coil moves closer to a Lift-off
conductive material, the
impedance of the coil Conductive material
changes (because of the
eddy currents) and follows
the Lift-off path. Air

L
Inductive reactance, X
 When the coil is over the
surface of the material, the
impedance stabilizes to its Crack
sound value.
 If the coil passes over a Lift-off
defect in the material, the Sound
impedance of the coil material
changes and follows the
Crack path. Resistance, R
Typical defect response
Support plate
Internal Shallow Deep
groove outside pit outside pit Hole

ABS DIF
Frequencies
 MultiView software automatically computes
the prime and its related frequencies. This
task is accomplished by the Setup Wizard.
The default frequency selection is:
– Prime frequency = F180
– Mixing frequency = F90
– Wall-thickness frequency = 1/2 F90 (or 1/4
F180)
– Flaw discrimination frequency = 1/8 F90 (or
1/16 F180)
Formulas
 Skin depth (in mm): 
– This formula is used to   50
determine the standard depth of f
penetration of the eddy current.
r
ρ  electric resistivit y (μΩcm)
f  frequency (Hz)
μ  relative p ermeabilit y
r


 F90 frequency (in kHz):
f 90  3 2
– This formula is used to
t
determine the frequency that
ρ  electric resistivit y (μΩcm)
creates 90°of phase shift
between ID and OD defect.
t  thickness (mm)