Eddy Current Testing Method
Eddy Current Testing Method
no…1………………….
ISSUE no…001……….
DATE………………….
Page 1 of 6
1. Scope:
2. Safety:
3. Personnel:
All Technicians shall be qualified to minimum PCN level 1 Eddy Current Welds.
If Technician is only qualified to level 1, he shall be under the direct supervision
of a suitably qualified level 2.
4. Description of component:
5. Areas to be inspected:
50mm of parent material each side of weld, weld toes and weld cap.
6. Surface preparation:
If the area to be inspected is badly corroded e.g. flaking, delaminating, the area
cannot be inspected with Eddy Current. Light corrosion can be scrapped and wire
brushed if can be cleaned to bare metal surface. Coating thickness must be non
conductive and no more than 2.0mm.
7. Equipment:
8.1 - The calibration block must be compatible with the material under
inspection. The phase shift must be within 5 degrees otherwise a
compatible calibration block must be procured or manufactured.
The following checks shall be made on all new probes or on probes not familiar to
the operator.
9.1 - Coil symmetry. -Index points shall be within 2.0mm of probe centre lines.
9.3 - Field width. -Shall not be less than 5.0mm in either the Positive or
Negative directions.
9.4 - Angled probe. -Angling the probe in either of the Positive directions to
give a 50% loss of signal amplitude and shall be achieved with angles of
not less than 25 degrees. Must have a difference of less than 5 degrees.
9.5 - Lift-off. -The lift off signal shall not be greater than 20% of the 1.0mm
slot amplitude signal.
Passing the probe over the 1.0mm slot of the test block mush achieve signal
amplitude of minimum FSH. Make sure to include the relevant number of plastic
shims to simulate the non-conductive coating.
11. Scanning:
A scanning pattern must be used to assure full coverage of the welds and adjacent
parent metal that will reveal any possible defects.
Weld toe
Weld toe
Probe Angled.
Balance on
plate
Weld toe
Locate one end of the defect using negative scanning shown in 11.3. The start of
the defect will be located directly under the probe just when the signal begins to
jump up. The other end of the defect can be located using this same technique
from the other direction. An accurate position of the defect can be determined by
doing a positive scan across the defect. The defect lies directly under the probe at
maximum amplitude signal.
Weld run
Weld beads
Probe vertical.
Balance on the weld.
Positive scans on top of runs.
Negative scans between runs
If possible do a positive scan
across the weld runs.
All measurements in metric values. Size the defects by using the technique from
the scanning notes in section 11.4 above.
13. Reporting:
Report all defects using the appropriate format. Refer to EN1711 for more
information.
Signature: Signature:
Date: Date: