Research on methods of defect classification based on metal magnetic memory

Metal magnetic memory (MMM) technique can evaluate early damages of ferromagnets and search possible defect locations, while just classifies the defect types roughly. To promote study in this area, the magnetic gradient tensor (MGT) of the self-magnetic leakage field (SMLF) on the fracture zone of crack and stress concentration was measured using a tri-axis magnetometer. From measured results, both the plane and the vertical characteristics of SMLF distributions were discussed. To remove the influence of the measuring direction on experimental results, a new parameter of the analytical signal of magnetic gradient tensor (AMGT) was introduced to determine the location and boundary of the defect. Then, the vertical features were acquired by measuring the plane distributions of AMGT under different lift offs. Through analyzing the vertical features, it was concluded that change rule of the maximum AMGT can be used to predict the defect type. At last, the explanation of the relationship between the vertical feature and the defect type was discussed, which can give some useful inspirations to researchers on magnetic leakage field testing.