Magneto-mechanical impedance methods and apparatus for crack detection and characterization of conduits and other structures

Abstract

A crack detecting system operable to detect cracks along a conduit or structure includes a tool movable along a conduit or structure and having at least one sensing device for sensing cracks in a wall of the conduit or structure, and a processor operable to process an output of the at least one sensing device. Responsive to processing of the output by the processor, the processor is operable to determine cracks at the wall of the conduit or structure. The at least one sensing device employs excitation in the form of a high current continuous or pulse wave that is applied to a magneto-mechanical impedance transducer/sensor coil to generate a mechanical wave in the conduit or structure.

1 . A crack detecting system operable to detect cracks along a conduit or structure, said crack detecting system comprising:
 a tool movable along a conduit or structure and having at least one sensing device for sensing cracks in a wall of the conduit or structure;   a processor operable to process an output of said at least one sensing device;   wherein, responsive to processing of the output by said processor, said processor is operable to determine presence of a crack at the wall of the conduit or structure; and   wherein said at least one sensing device employs excitation in the form of a high current continuous or pulse wave that is applied to a magneto-mechanical impedance transducer/sensor coil to generate a mechanical wave in the conduit or structure.   
     
     
         2 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensing device comprises a magnetic yoke and a magneto sensor coil. 
     
     
         3 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensing device comprises an electro-mechanical impedance device. 
     
     
         4 . The crack detecting system of  claim 3 , wherein said electro-mechanical impedance device utilizes vibroacoustic modulation. 
     
     
         5 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said tool comprises at least one module with each module having at least one sensing device. 
     
     
         6 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said tool comprises at least two modules with each module having a respective sensing device. 
     
     
         7 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensing device comprises at least two sensing devices using different sensing technologies. 
     
     
         8 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor determines cracks at an interior surface of the conduit or structure. 
     
     
         9 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor determines the cracks at an exterior surface of the conduit or structure. 
     
     
         10 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a caliper module operable to determine a geometry or flaw of the conduit or structure. 
     
     
         11 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , further comprising storing data output from the at least one sensor in a data storage device of the tool. 
     
     
         12 . The crack detecting system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is located at a remote location from the tool. 
     
     
         13 . The crack detecting system of  claim 12 , wherein the tool is operable to wirelessly transmit the output of said at least one sensing device to the processor. 
     
     
         14 . A method for detecting cracks along a conduit or structure, the method comprising:
 providing a tool comprising at least one sensing device for sensing cracks in a wall of the conduit or structure, wherein the at least one sensing device employs excitation in the form of a high current continuous or pulse wave that is applied to a magneto-mechanical impedance transducer/sensor coil to generate a mechanical wave in the conduit or structure;   moving the tool along the conduit or structure and collecting data output from the at least one sensor;   processing the data output of the at least one sensing device; and   determining, based at least in part on the processing of the output, presence of a crack at the wall of the conduit or structure.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensing device comprises an electro-mechanical impedance device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the electro-mechanical impedance device utilizes vibroacoustic modulation. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool comprises at least one position determining device, and wherein the method comprises determining the position of the tool as the tool moves along the conduit or structure via processing data output of the position determining device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the processing occurs at a location remote from the tool. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising transmitting the data output wirelessly from the tool to the remote processor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising storing the data output from the at least one sensor in a data storage device of the tool.