Eddy current modeling of narrow cracks in planar-layered metal structures

Eddy current testing (ECT) of narrow cracks is an important issue in several industrial areas. Efficient modeling tools are required in order to better interpret measurements, to design adapted probes, and to assess the reliability of testing procedures. A dedicated boundary element model (BEM) suitable for eddy current inspection of several narrow cracks affecting a planar-stratified conductive medium is proposed. The cracks' openings can be arbitrarily small, and their respective orientations be along parallel or orthogonal directions. The approach alleviates most of the computational difficulties of classical methods in such peculiar cases. Comparisons of the results with experimental and simulated data taken from the literature, completed with in-house experiments, illustrate its good accuracy and low computational burden. (authors)