Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 021001 |
| Journal | Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 12 Dec 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - May 2023 |
Abstract
A reliable assessment of the actual condition of wind turbines is essential for their continuous operation, or if an extension of their service life is considered. To be able to make valid statements about the condition of the welded structure, an inspection concept for the reliable detection of fatigue cracks and damage on welds of the offshore tower and foundation structures is essential. In the present study, five different eddy current differential sensors were evaluated on cyclically fatigued DY butt welds under tensile load with a focus on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Based on previous evaluations, two sensors were selected for semi-automatic weld testing. It is shown that due to the weld crossing necessary for the detection of fatigue cracks, air coils arranged parallel to the test surface have the highest SNR. This must be contrasted with the potential for crack depth determination. In this context, coils with different arrangements with respect to the test surface were analyzed. It is shown that groove depths can be differentiated based on the imaginary part of the measurement signal for groove depths of up to 8 mm, and actual fatigue cracks in welds with a crack depth of 0.5 mm were detected.
Keywords
- continuous and periodic condition assessment, eddy current, failure analysis, offshore engineering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Engineering(all)
- Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
- Engineering(all)
- Mechanics of Materials
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In: Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems, Vol. 6, No. 2, 021001, 05.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection and Characterization of Fatigue Cracks in Butt Welds of Offshore Structures Using the Eddy Current Method
AU - Gansel, René
AU - Maier, Hans Jürgen
AU - Barton, Sebastian
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - A reliable assessment of the actual condition of wind turbines is essential for their continuous operation, or if an extension of their service life is considered. To be able to make valid statements about the condition of the welded structure, an inspection concept for the reliable detection of fatigue cracks and damage on welds of the offshore tower and foundation structures is essential. In the present study, five different eddy current differential sensors were evaluated on cyclically fatigued DY butt welds under tensile load with a focus on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Based on previous evaluations, two sensors were selected for semi-automatic weld testing. It is shown that due to the weld crossing necessary for the detection of fatigue cracks, air coils arranged parallel to the test surface have the highest SNR. This must be contrasted with the potential for crack depth determination. In this context, coils with different arrangements with respect to the test surface were analyzed. It is shown that groove depths can be differentiated based on the imaginary part of the measurement signal for groove depths of up to 8 mm, and actual fatigue cracks in welds with a crack depth of 0.5 mm were detected.
AB - A reliable assessment of the actual condition of wind turbines is essential for their continuous operation, or if an extension of their service life is considered. To be able to make valid statements about the condition of the welded structure, an inspection concept for the reliable detection of fatigue cracks and damage on welds of the offshore tower and foundation structures is essential. In the present study, five different eddy current differential sensors were evaluated on cyclically fatigued DY butt welds under tensile load with a focus on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Based on previous evaluations, two sensors were selected for semi-automatic weld testing. It is shown that due to the weld crossing necessary for the detection of fatigue cracks, air coils arranged parallel to the test surface have the highest SNR. This must be contrasted with the potential for crack depth determination. In this context, coils with different arrangements with respect to the test surface were analyzed. It is shown that groove depths can be differentiated based on the imaginary part of the measurement signal for groove depths of up to 8 mm, and actual fatigue cracks in welds with a crack depth of 0.5 mm were detected.
KW - continuous and periodic condition assessment
KW - eddy current
KW - failure analysis
KW - offshore engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148075246&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1115/1.4056313
DO - 10.1115/1.4056313
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85148075246
VL - 6
JO - Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems
JF - Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation, Diagnostics and Prognostics of Engineering Systems
SN - 2572-3901
IS - 2
M1 - 021001
ER -