Eddy Current Testing (ECT)
Eddy Current Testing uses electromagnetic induction to detect and characterize surface and near-surface defects. It is commonly applied to conductive materials and is used in the aerospace industry, among others, for inspecting components like aircraft engine parts.
Advantages
• Good for complex geometries.
• Portable.
• Can be used on painted surfaces.
• Advanced EC sets can provide permanent records of inspection data.
• Instant results.
• Relatively little surface preparation needed.
What defects/indications can it detect?
• Pitting.
• Shallow and tight surface fatigue cracks.
• Stress corrosion cracks in pipes and tubes.
Commonly used to test
• Aircraft fuselage and wings.
• Pipes and tubes.
• Heat Exchangers.
• Welds.
Limitations
• ECT can only be used on conducive materials.
•Any defects found need to be backed up by another inspection technique, for example, MPI.
Alternative inspection methods
• Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI).
• Dye Penetrant Inspection (DPI)