Edge effect analysis and edge defect detection of titanium alloy based on eddy current testing

Titanium alloy is widely used in the area of aerospace and aviation due to its excellent properties. Eddy current testing (ECT) is among the most extensively used non-destructive techniques for titanium alloy material inspection. However, most previous research has focused on inspecting defects far from the edge of the material. It is a challenging task for edge crack detection because of edge effect. This study aims to investigate the influences of sensor parameters on edge effect and defect detection capability, and in the meantime, optimize sensor parameters to improve the capability of edge defect detection. The simulation method for edge effect evaluation is proposed including the 2^k factorial design used for factor screening, and the regression model is fitted and validated for sensor design and optimization for edge defect detection. A simulation scheme is designed to investigate the defect detection capability. An approach comprehensively analyzing the influence of coil parameters on edge effect and defect detection capability is applied to determine the optimal coil parameters for edge defect detection.