Eddy Current Flows Around Cracks in Thin Plates for Nondestructive Testing

The boundary element method is used to calculate the induced electric current flow around cracks in thin conducting plates. A low frequency approximation leads to a Poisson equation for the current density potential or stream function. A kernel is used which produces the correct singularity at the crack tip. The boundary condition on the crack, derived from Faraday’s law, requires the line integral of the current density around the crack to be zero. Numerical results for induced currents due to a circular induction coil ore given. These results show that hot spots, due to Joule heating, can occur at the tips of the crack. Comparison of numerical results with infrared scanning experiments of eddy currents in a cracked plate are given. It is hoped that the numerical method presented here will provide a tool to simulate both new and conventional nondestructive eddy current testing techniques.