The inverse problem related to eddy current testing (ECT) is often formulated as a shape optimization problem. The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for determining the optimal parameters of a sensor system for more accurate reconstruction of the crack shape.
In this paper, an objective function is formulated using the shape sensitivity information computed from the ECT data. The design of a non‐destructive testing (NDT) sensor is carried out through optimizing the sensor parameters under such a criterion.
The methodology proposed results in modifications to the original sensor geometry which makes it more sensitive to the depth changes in a crack. A square wave form of excitation is used in order to provide more information on the size of the crack at different depths, essentially through the superposition of a range of excitation frequencies, each of which has a different depth of penetration. The newly designed ECT sensor system is suitable for dealing with the natural crack problem.
While the methodology is general and has been shown to work in a simulated environment, the result is not verified by the experiments because the newly designed device has not actually been fabricated.
This paper has demonstrated the possibility of designing a sensor probe using computer aided design tools without extensive physical testing. The design process is novel and based on a sensitivity approach. This is shown to be very efficient and effective and the solution of the inverse problem demonstrates a very fast convergence.
