Investigation on eddy current pulsed thermography to detect hidden cracks on corroded metal surface

This paper explores the feasibility of eddy current pulsed thermography (ECPT) to detect hidden cracks on corroded metal surface without removing the corrosion layer. The detection mechanisms are analyzed by using electromagnetic and heat conduction theories. Experiments are conducted on a metallic bar with three hidden cracks and the validity of ECPT is verified with the analysis of IR images and thermal responses. In order to further improve the detection sensitivity of ECPT, the principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to enhance the features of hidden cracks in the raw IR images by eliminating the effects of uneven corrosion and non-uniform heating. It is found that ECPT combined with PCA provides a convenient and effective way to detect hidden cracks on corroded metal surface.