Nondestmctive Evaluation of Cracks in Metal Plates by using SQUID Gradiometer

We have detected cracks inside multi-layer metal sheets with nondestructive evaluation system consisting of SQUID gradiometer. Double D-shape coil was carefully designed with computer simulation for spatial distribution of magnetic field. It was aligned and placed in between SQUID and metal sheets in order to reduce the field effect to SQUID and to maximize eddy current in the sheets. The metal plate in bottom of the metal stack contained artificial cracks which were scanned by an X-Y scanning system. The information of crack position and size could be estimated by analysis of SQUID signal. Details of the results will be discussed .