Liftoff insensitive thickness measurement of aluminum plates using harmonic eddy current excitation and a GMR sensor

This paper describes the implementation of a device that measures the thickness of metallic plates. A pancake coil for magnetic field sinusoidal excitation is used and detection is performed with a bridge giant magneto-resistor sensor. The paper uses the theory of the linear transformer to explain the liftoff effect with a special attention to the point of interception phenomenon. The transformer model shows that to attain the interception points with instantaneous measured voltages independent of the liftoff gap the excitation coil must be driven with imposed current. This effect was explored to show that a simultaneous process of thickness and conductivity measurement is feasible.

► Harmonic, current-driven excitation was used.
► The linear transformer model previews that the LOI point exists.
► GMR sensor permits low operation frequency.
► With lower frequency the thickness measurement range may be increased.