Affiliations: [a] State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for NDT and Structural Integrity Evaluation, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China | [b] China Nuclear Power Operation Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China | [c] Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Zhenmao Chen, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Shaanxi Engineering Research Center for NDT and Structural Integrity Evaluation, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China. Tel./Fax: +86 29 82668736; E-mail: chenzm@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Abstract: In this paper, the conventional database type fast forward solver for efficient simulation of eddy current testing (ECT) signals is upgraded by using an advanced multi-media finite element (MME) at the crack edge for treating inversion of complex shaped crack. Because the analysis domain is limited at the crack region, the fast forward solver can significantly improve the numerical accuracy and efficiency once the coefficient matrices of the MME can be properly calculated. Instead of the Gauss point classification, a new scheme to calculate the coefficient matrix of the MME is proposed and implemented to upgrade the ECT fast forward solver. To verify its efficiency and the feasibility for reconstruction of complex shaped crack, several cracks were reconstructed through inverse analysis using the new MME scheme. The numerical results proved that the upgraded fast forward solver can give better accuracy for simulating ECT signals, and consequently gives better crack profile reconstruction.
Keywords: Fast forward solver, multi-media element, crack shape reconstruction, eddy current test
