Modeling of the yoke-magnetization in MFL-testing by finite elements

The yoke-magnetization is very popular in magnetic particle testing of welds. The detectability of a flaw by using this method largely depends on the magnetic flux density passing through a specimen to be examined or on the intensity of magnetic field acting in/on the specimen. In Japan inspectors have to check and confirm the appropriate magnetizing situation of the specimen by using an A-type standard test specimen specified in the standard JIS G 0565-1992. The development of indications by magnetic particles on the standard specimen is influenced by the air gap between the standard specimen and the specimen surface to be examined. Since the height and breadth of an artificial flaw in the standard specimen also influence the leakage of the magnetic flux density from the flaw, the information about the magnetizing situation is complex. In this paper we first identify influences of some factors on the magnetic leakage flux density from an artificial flaw in the standard specimen by using FEM modeling. Since the check with the standard specimen gives not a unique information to the magnetization state we investigate the technique, in which intensity of magnetic field acting on the specimen surface is used to characterize the magnetization. A finite element approach is applied to model the magnetization situation. The effectiveness of the modeling is confirmed by an experiment. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.