An eddy current sensor consists of a ferrite U-core and a coil. The force and stress measurement is based on the permeability change of the device under test (DUT) caused by an applying force on it. As result the impedance of the sensor coil changes with the applying force. The impedance change can be converted into a voltage change by using a measuring bridge. The force and stress applied on the DUT can be derived by the voltage measurement.

The sensitivity, linearity and hysteresis of an eddy current force and stress sensor depend strongly on measuring conditions, i.e., exciting current and testing frequency. The testing conditions must be optimized to obtain a high sensor sensitivity, a good linearity and a low hysteresis. The testing frequency is normally selected between 100 Hz and 10 kHz. In this case the optimal exciting current changes from 25mA to 50mA. 

The relation between the measuring impedance and the applying stress is nearly linear under the optimized measuring conditions. The mean correlation coefficient is better than -0.996. The hysteresis of the loading and unloading curves is less than 3%.

Fig.3 shows the sensitivity and hysteresis of both measuring quantities Rs and Ls as a function of the exciting frequency. Using these graphics the optimal frequency can be easily derived.

The developed eddy current sensors can also be used for the measurement of residual stress in steel elements. To optimize the testing conditions of an eddy current sensor for the measurement of residual stress, three reference specimens (80x15x9 mm³) are used as device under test. The sensor setup is shown in the left figure. The specimens have a tensile stress profile on one side and a pressure stress profile on the opposite side.

Fig.5 shows parameter changes of coil impedance measured between tensile and pressure residual stress as function of exciting current and frequency. The relative parameter changes reach their maximum when the exciting current I=20 mA. The resistance change is less than the inductance change in the lower frequency range, and vice versa in the higher frequency range. The optimal frequency range for the two parameters are between 500 Hz and 20 kHz.

The developed sensors react sensitively to the change of residual stress in the specimens. In the frequency range from 500 Hz to 20 kHz the sensitivity of the resistance Rs and inductance Ls are variable between 0.026 % MPa^-1 to 0.049 % MPa^-1 . This is the double of the sensitivity of force and stress measurement using the same sensor.

The developed eddy current sensor array can be used for the measurement of residual stress of steel elements in the automobil industry and maschine building.

These measuring methods are developed at the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Kassel.

Displacement and position measurement using eddy current sensors

For further information please contact University of Kassel or BB Automacao