Eddy current array (ECA) has enhanced the practice of flaw detection in the aerospace industry through expanded coverage areas, reduced inspection time, improved detectability, repeatability, and data recording. However, because ECA detectability is inversely proportional to scan speed, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of today’s ECA techniques limits their ability to detect the very small flaws and loss of material that can occur in many aerospace inspections such as friction stir welds and multi-layer structures susceptible to corrosion and fatigue cracking. Minimum flaw size and required data density are the main factors affecting scan speed when using eddy current array. As speed increases, the SNR decreases, therefore the minimum flaw size becomes larger. Zetec introduces exceptional SNR in an eddy current array instrument, eliminating the need to sacrifice scan speed for superior flaw detectability.

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