Segmented Magnetostrictive Pipe Inspection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring techniques for tubes and pipes face challenges in ease of use, durability, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in long-range guided wave inspections, which often require complex coupling methods and are limited by temperature ranges.
Innovation Solution
The development of a segmented magnetostrictive collar system with individually controllable coil circuits and a tensioner mechanism for mechanical pressure coupling, allowing for enhanced ease-of-use, greater durability, and reduced costs, while maintaining effective ultrasonic coupling across a wide temperature range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If segmented magnetostrictive collar design is used for long-range guided wave inspection, then measurement precision and detection capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetostrictive collar is divided into multiple discrete segments arranged circumferentially around the pipe. Each segment contains coil circuits and magnetostrictive material that can be independently controlled. This segmentation enables partial loading configurations where only specific segments are activated to send and receive guided waves in targeted directions, improving measurement precision while allowing flexible operation to manage device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control of individual coil circuit segments through multiple channels, allowing selective activation of different segments based on inspection requirements. This dynamic operation enables the system to adapt to different inspection scenarios, focusing energy where needed and reducing overall system complexity by deactivating unnecessary segments during specific measurement phases.
2Reliability
If mechanical pressure coupling is applied to maintain ultrasonic coupling across wide temperature ranges, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioner mechanism applies mechanical pressure to maintain consistent contact between the magnetostrictive collar and the pipe surface across varying temperature conditions. By physically constraining the collar segments to the pipe, the system ensures reliable ultrasonic coupling without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation through a passive mechanical solution.
3Measurement precision
If individually controllable coil circuits are implemented in each segment, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is constructed from multiple identical or similar segments, each containing coil circuits and magnetostrictive material. This modular segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual segments that can be produced using consistent processes, then assembled into the complete collar. The repetition of similar components across segments improves measurement precision through selective activation while managing manufacturing complexity through modularity and standardization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient and reliable non-destructive inspection of pipes by improving signal-to-noise ratio, sensitivity, and penetration power, allowing for accurate detection of defects and structural features across various temperatures, thus enhancing the overall inspection process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one magnetostrictive strip configured to be induced with a bias magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of coil circuits configured to be disposed adjacent to the at least one magnetostrictive strip
Data Source
AI summary
A system for non-destructive inspection of a structure includes a magnetostrictive strip, a plurality of coil circuits, a jacket assembly, and a tensioner. The magnetostrictive strip is configured to be induced with a bias magnetic field and wrapped at least partially around an outer surface of a structure. The plurality of coil circuits disposed on a flexible circuit board having at least two layers of conductive signal traces. The jacket assembly includes an inner jacket component, an outer jacket component, and a mid-layer component configured to be disposed adjacent to the plurality of coil circuits. The tensioner is configured to provide a mechanical pressure coupling between the magnetostrictive strip and the structure. Each coil circuit is individually controllable by a plurality of channels to at least one of excite or detect guided waves in the structure.