Electromagnetic Non-Destructive Testing and Evaluation

Overview & Synopsis

In light of potential structural failure and incidents, the safety of engineering structures has received much attention worldwide. Approaches for non-destructive monitoring, inspection and evaluation of the integrity of mechanical structures such as oil/gas pipelines, fuel tanks, aero-engines, etc., during their fabrication/construction and in-service operations before catastrophic accidents occur are crucial and in high demand. Until now, electromagnetism-based non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) techniques, such as eddy current testing and magnetic flux leakage testing, have been used in the detection, characterization and assessment of critical flaws (Stress Corrosion Cracks, Flaw Acculturated Corrosion, Liquid Droplet Impingement Erosion, etc.) that have posed a threat to the structural integrity. However, none of these techniques are universal and could be taken as the skeleton key to the issue regarding NDT&E of in-service structures. In view of this, more and more advanced electromagnetic non-destructive testing methods have been proposed, complementary to the current techniques. This Reprint includes overviews and original articles focusing on electromagnetic non-destructive testing and evaluation of critical components and structures in the engineering fields. The related topics involve eddy current testing, eddy current thermography, microwave and millimeter wave testing, magnetic flux leakage and electromagnetic field sensing, etc.