NASA's Langley Research Center has developed a new eddy current inspection device that probes for cracks in parts of metal structures that are often inaccessible without extensive disassembly. The probe is specially designed for insertion into the cavity of a part to inspect the surrounding structure in an outward direction. For example, the probe may be held inside a large, thick tube and pointed outward to inspect the outer diameter of the tube. NASA used the probe to test for stress corrosion cracking in the relief radius of Space Shuttle thrusters without having to dismantle the hardware, reducing inspection time while ensuring the health of the structure. NASA Langley is seeking organizations that would like to license the probe to test for cracks in rocket thrusters and other metallic structures with hard-to-reach inspection areas.

A photograph of the prototype eddy current sensor (left) and a schematic diagram of an eddy current thruster inspection tool (right).

Test results have shown that the system is a robust, operator-independent, and reliable inspection method for granular crack detection in the relief radius of thruster components. It is designed to inspect for outer surface damage by accessing the structure from the interior of the thruster cavity and probing in an outward direction. The technique incorporates a dual-frequency, orthogonally wound eddy current probe mounted on a stepper-motor-controlled scanning system.

A photograph of the prototype eddy current sensor and a schematic diagram of the technique are shown in the figure. Matched eddy current coils are arranged orthogonally to each other and scanned into the acoustic cavity of the thruster. In the conceptual diagram, the inspection coil on the left is arranged with its axis along the circumferential direction. This orientation enables a relatively deep field penetration with the small-diameter coil required to fit into the acoustic cavity, and induces current in a direction that will have a strong interaction with cracks originating in the relief radius and growing toward the acoustic cavity. A second coil with its axis parallel to the acoustic cavity provides a local reference for the inspection. The probe has been prototyped, tested, and used at NASA.

Potential uses include commercial aerospace applications for inspection of shuttle-like thruster motors for launching satellites or crew vehicles, and nuclear power plants for inspection to ensure the integrity of thick tubing structures.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact The Technology Gateway at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to initiate licensing discussions. Follow this link for more information: http://technology.nasa.gov/patent/TB2016/LAR-TOPS-74 .