Fast and Reliable Detection of Surface Imperfections
Surface Flaw Detection is one of the most common applications of Eddy Current Testing (ET), providing rapid identification of surface-breaking discontinuities like cracks, laps, seams, or pits across conductive materials—both ferrous and non-ferrous.
The technique uses a probe generating an alternating magnetic field that induces eddy currents near the material surface. Any surface defect disturbs the current flow, producing a detectable change in impedance, which is displayed as a distinctive signal. ET is ideal for detecting fatigue or stress corrosion cracks without chemical processing or extended preparation.
BQCIS employs pencil probes for high-resolution point scanning and Eddy Current Array (ECA) probes for rapid wide-area mapping, combining portability, speed, and digital accuracy for industrial and aerospace inspections.
Key ET Surface Flaw Detection Activities
Key Benefits of ET for Surface Flaws
High Inspection Speed
Enables fast scanning across large surfaces or multiple components, significantly reducing inspection time compared to liquid penetrant methods.
Sensitive to Fine Cracks
Detects extremely small surface-breaking fatigue or stress cracks in welds, fasteners, and machined components.
Minimal Surface Preparation
Can inspect through thin coatings or paints with minimal cleaning—ideal for fast turnaround during maintenance operations.
Clean & Chemical-Free
Requires no penetrants or magnetic baths, providing an environmentally safe and operator-friendly inspection process.
Success Story
ET Inspection Detects Fatigue Cracks in Turbine Blades
Critical turbine blades required high-sensitivity surface inspection to detect fatigue cracks at the leading and trailing edges during scheduled overhaul.
BQCIS employed pencil probes and ECA scanners to map surface discontinuities with precision. Frequency optimization ensured superior signal-to-noise ratio across varying blade curvatures.
Crack indications were detected and verified within the maintenance timeframe. The ET results enabled targeted blade replacement and avoided catastrophic failure during operation.