METHOD FOR MEASURING MECHANICAL STRESSES AND FATIGUE CONDITIONS IN STEEL

Abstract: Method for measuring mechanical stresses and fatigue conditions in steel (1), whereby a pulse shaped electric current is applied to the steel through a pair of contact points (2-3-4), characterized in that the potential drop curves A(t) thereby generated between another pair of contact points (6, 7) are measured by repeated sampling (8, 9, 10). The steel subjected to the measurements can both be magnetized (11, 12) and demagnetized (2, 3, 5) by means of arrangements known per se and being employed for magnetizing the steel to selected points at the initial, the anhysteretic and the hysteresis magnetization curves. Comparison of the potential drop curves (10) at different magnetization makes it possible to determine the mechanical stress and the fatigue condition in the steel.

Description: METHOD FOR MEASURING MECHANICAL STRESSES AND FATIGUE CONDITIONS IN STEEL The present invention relates to a method for obtaining information regarding the condition of steel structures by means of a measuring method which can be adopted for detecting cracks, material loss (for example corrosion) , mechanical stresses and fatigue. Large steel structures are often subjected to varying loads. For safety reasons it is important to inspect and monitor such structures in order to discover conditions which can develop into serious defects. Comprised herein are, inter alia, mechanical stresses which can arise uninten¬ tionally both during construction, (for example in or adjacent weld seams) and during operation because of uncon- trollable conditions. For measuring relative mechanical stresses strain gauges or other means are often employed for detecting small dimen¬ sional changes in the steel (elongation measurements) . By employment of such methods changes are measured from the instant when the arrangement was installed. When absolute mechanical stresses are concerned, the possibilities are more limited. It is known, however, that measurement and analysis of Barkhausen noise can render information about mechanical stresses (reference 1) . More- over it is to be noted that mechanical stresses lead to changes in magnetic properties and use of this phenomenon has been attempted as a basis for measuring mechanical stresses in steel (reference 2) . The present invention is based on the measurement of magnetic properties in steel by means of a particular measurement method which takes Norwegian patent No. 150,136 (reference 3) as a starting point. This patent is directed to the detection of cracks and material loss in metal structures. The further development to be described below is primarily directed to the measurement of mechanical stresses and fatigue conditions in steel, but can also be of signifi¬ cance in connection with improving the capability of detec¬ ting cracks and material loss. The above Norwegian patent mainly describes a method which is based on the measurement of voltage drop (potential drop) when an electric current is applied. The voltage drop is measured between a number of contact points both when the structure is in a preferably known initial condition and during operation. The voltage drops measured are compared with each other and form the basis for detecting changes in the condition of the structure, in the first place cracks and material loss. The current applied is pulse shaped. Upon each current step the voltage drop measured will follow a transient curve because of the skin effect, which in the above patent is referred to as disturbances. Therefore, the application of current takes place at a low pulse frequency so that the transient portion of the voltage drop has decayed before measurement takes place. Thus, according to the patent a prejudice exists against the idea of considering the transient portion of the voltage drop curve as informative as far as possible defects or changes in the structure are concerned. On the contrary, the present invention is based on the idea of deriving information from the transient curve portion of the voltage or potential drop. During the time when the potential drop over a set of contact points varies after each step of the applied current (excitation current) the potential drop is therefore measured by repeated sampling so that there is obtained a picture of the whole transient curve in the form of a series of number values which can be further processed in a computer. In order to obtain good accuracy the repeated sampling can be performed over several periods of the excitation current, so that on basis of a larger amount of data accurate average values can be calculated. More or less advanced algorithms can be employed for computing accurate average values. The transient potential drop as a function of time contains information with respect to the electrical and magnetic properties of the steel. When the transient curve after a time interval has completely decayed (the potential drop is then stationary) the level of the potential drop is given by the electric resistivity of the steel, which in turn is influenced by cracks and material loss As already indicated the first portion of the transient curve is mainly related to the magnetic properties of the steel which in turn is influenced by mechanical stresses. In the points listed below it is indicated how magnetic properties of steel are influenced by mechanical stress. The basic physical phenomena and more thorough discussions thereof are available in the literature (reference 5) . . The shape or character of both the initial, the anhys- teretic and the hysteresis magnetisation curve is changed upon the application of mechanical stress. . At a given constant magnetic field strength an applied mechanical stress will bring the initial and the anhys- teretic magnetisation curves to approach each other. . The change of magnetisation as a consequence of the changed mechanical stress, is not restored when the mechanical stress is reduced to the initial level. Only upon demagnetisation by applying a magnetic field with a gradually diminishing amplitude to zero, the magneti¬ sation curves will return to their original shape. It has also been shown that the magnetic properties of steel can be influenced during a fatigue process (reference 4) . . The character of the magnetisation curves is changed during a fatigue process. These changes cannot be restored by demagnetisation. The measurement of relative mechanical stresses in steel can be based on the measurement of the magnetisation (and thus the character of the magnetisation curves) under given conditions, for example with reference to the anhysteretic magnetisation curve at a given field strength, and comparison with earlier measurments. The method described in Norwegian patent No. 150.136 can then be employed. Measurements are then performed also at a location which is not subjected to stress or strain (denoted reference measurement in the above patent) . In addition thereto possibilities of demagneti- sation are incorporated. A similar method can be employed for measuring the maximum stress to which the steel has been subjected since the last measurement. Then the property mentioned, i.e. that a magnetisation change is not restored or reset until upon demagnetisation, is utilized. Measurement of absolute mechanical stresses in steel can be based on the fact that the initial magnetisation curve and the anhysteretic magnetisation curve will be changed upon the application of mechanical stress. The transient voltage drops, which are influenced by the character of the magneti¬ sation curves, are measured with reference to both the initial and the anhysteretic magnetisation curve, and is compared with each other. In the alternative the two measurements can be made with reference to the hysteresis and the anhysteretic magnetisation curve. When there is no mechanical stress in the steel the fatigue condition can be measured in a similar way as absolute mechanical stresses. It has not been fully clari¬ fied, however, how the various magnetisation curves (and thereby the transient potential drop curves) are changed in relation to each other during a fatigue process. It is to be expected, however, that fatigue will lead to certain charac¬ teristic features in the transient potential drop curves, which presumably can be recognized when the curves are subjected to a closer analysis. Thus the method for measuring mechanical stresses and fatigue conditions in steel, whereby a pulse shaped electric current is applied to the steel through a first pair of contact points, according to the invention is characterized by measuring the transient potential drop which is caused thereby between a second pair of contact points, by repeated sampling, and that the results of several measurements are further processed in order to determine the mechanical stress or the fatigue condition in the steel. The method can be employed directly on steel structures. Current injection and measurement of transient potential drop is then performed directly on the steel structure. The method can also be employed in sensors. Current injection and measurement of transient potential drop is then performed for example in a beam which is attached to the structure so that it is subjected to the mechanical strain concerned. A main concept utilized by the present invention as already explained, is the phenomenon that the electrical potential drop curves (transient curves) which arise between a pair of contact points as a consequence of current pulses applied, change when the mechanical stress is changed. The potential drop curves are related to the skin effect, which in turn is related to the permeability of the steel. (As known, relative permeability is a parameter which indicates the capability of magnetisation when a magnetic field is applied) . When applying a current step, for example in a steel plate, the current density at the surface will be high immediately after the current step, and decreases gradually to a stationary value. The potential drop measured between two points thus will reflect the current density at the surface, which is a function of time having high values initially and decreasing to a stationary value corresponding to the electrical resistivity between the measurement point. Thus, the transient potential drop renders information about both the permeability and the conductivity of the material, which according to the discussions above can be influenced by mechanical stress/fatigue condition as well as material loss/corrosion. For the time being it has not been verified to which degree the conductivity varies during a fatigue process before cracks can be detected by means of common NDT methods. Possibly such changes may be due to a large number of microcracks. Further features of the invention as far as the measure¬ ment of absolute mechanical stresses is concerned, are stated in the claims, and shall be explained in the following description with reference to the figures of drawings. Fig. l shows an arrangement for measuring absolute stresses at a section of a steel plate. Fig. 2 shows a current step and potential drop A(t) as a function of time. Fig. 3 shows two potential drop curves and a deviation curve being calculated. Fig. 4 shows deviation curves measured for a steel beam which was subjected to various degrees of mechanical stress. To the steel plate 1 in Fig. 1 current pulses (exci¬ tation current) is applied by means of the source of current 4 through contact points 2, 3. When required a source of current 5 alternatively can be connected for demagnetisation, by means of a switch 14. By means of this source of current there is applied an alternating current with a diminishing amplitude down to zero. The potential drop A(t) which is measured between measurement points 6,7 is led to the ampli¬ fier 8. The output signal from the amplifier is digitized in an A/D converter 9 for further processing in a computer 10. The analogue signal from the amplifier can be led to an oscilloscope 13 for visual observation, but more often, however, the changes brought about will be so small that it is difficult to observe them on the oscilloscope screen. By means of an electromagnet 11 the steel can be magnetized at the location where the potential drop is measured. The strength of the magnetic field applied can be selected as a desired magnitude by means of an adjustable source of current 12. The current sources 4, 5 and 12 as well as the switch 14 can be controlled from the computer. This control function has not been shown in Fig. 1. Demagnetization by means of the current source 5 alter¬ natively can be performed by delivering the current to an electromagnet instead of switching to the injection points 2, 3 for the excitation current. The switch 14 is then super¬ fluous. As a third alternative the current from the demagne¬ tization source 5 can be injected into the steel through contact points being only employed for this purpose. Also in this case the switch 14 is superfluous. Injection points 2, 3, measurement points 6,7 and the electromagnet 11 can be built together as a portable unit. In Fig. 2 a typical current step (A) and potential drop (B) are shown with ideal curve shapes. In actual practice the current step will have a certain rise time, and the signal (potential drop) will have an additional component due to electric induction between measuring leads and the conductor loop which form the injection circuit. It is also possible to let the current step start from a negative value. The potential drop curve according to its nature is a Bessel function. It starts from theoretical infinity, and has a dominating time constant which means that the curve will by and by approach an exponential function (dotted curve) . The stationary value which A(t) is approaching, is exclusively determined by the ohmic resistance between the measurement points. The time constant of the exponential function mentioned, is determined by geometrical relation¬ ships as well as conductivity and permeability. If the potential drop measured at the opposite side of a steel plate in relation to that side where the current step is applied, A(t) will start from zero, and will increase until the stationary value is reached. The measurements will always be based on the comparison of at least two curves as a function of time. Fig. 3 illustrates how, on the basis of two curves a(t) and b(t), a deviation curve, AVK(t) , is computed from the difference between the two curves. The deviation curve is here computed as but also other algorithms can be utilized in order to charac¬ terize the deviation between various curves plotted as a function of time. As an additional explanation referring to Fig. 1 a sequence is described below explaining how the arrangement shown can be employed for measuring transients with reference to the intial and the anhysteretic magnetization curve: 1) The current from the current source 12 to the electro¬ magnet 11 is set to zero. 2) The current injection points 2, 3 are connected to the current source 5 by means of switch 14. The current source 5 is activated for demagnetization. 3) By means of switch 14 the current injection points 2, 3 are connected to current source 4 which applies a pulse shaped current to the steel. 4) The current from current source 12 to electromagnet 11 is continually increased to the desired magnitude. The steel is now magnetized with reference to the initial magnetization curve. 5) The transient potential drop between measurement points 6, 7, i.e. a(t) , is measured and stored in the computer 10. 6) The above point 2 is repeated. After this the steel is magnetized with reference to the anhysteretic magnetization curve. 7) The above point 3 is repeated. 8) The transient potential drop between measurement points 6, 7, i.e. b(t) , is measured and stored in computer 10. 9) Computer 10 computes AVK(t) according to the expression given above. Examples of deviation curves computed and printed from a computer, are shown in Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c where the applied mechanical stress on a steel beam is 0, 100 and 300 MPa tensional load respectively. The magnetic field applied in this case is 1,4 kA/m. The horizontal scale in Fig. 4 is 0 to 0.7 sec. Similar measurements can be made at a different field strength and with reference to the hysteresis and the anhys- teretic magnetization curve as the case may be. If desired it is also possible to compute deviation curves with reference to the initial and the hysteresis magnetization curves. From experience as to the character of the deviation curves at different mechanical stresses it will be possible to determine the unknown stress condition. In a similar way deviation curves can render information with respect to the fatigue condition in the steel, and thus form a basis for computing remaining lifetime before failure in a fatigue process. LITERATURE REFERENCES (1) Rautioaho, R.H., and Karjalinen, L.P.: "Application of Barkhausen noise measurements to residual stress analysis in structural steels". Proc. Scandinavian Symposium in Materials Science, 20-21 June 1983, Oulu Finland, pp 179-185. (2) Lugg M. C. : "The effect of stress on the ACFM technique". Controller (C) HMSO, London 1987. (3) Hognestad H. : "Method and arrangement for monitoring large structures of metal" Norwegian Patent No. 150.136. (4) Bose M. S. C. : "A study of fatigue in ferromagnetic materials using a magnetic hysteresis technique" NDT International Vol. 19 No. 2, April 1986. (5) Jiles D.C. and Aderton D.L.: "Theory of the magnetisation process in ferromagnets and its application to the magnetomechanical effect". J. Phys. Appl., 17 (1984) pp 1265-1281.

Claims: Claims 1. Method for measuring mechanical stresses and fatigue conditions in steel (1) , whereby a pulse shaped electric current is applied to the steel through a first pair of contact points (2,3), characterized in that the transient potential drop thereby brought about between another pair of contact points (6,7) is measured by repeated sampling and that the results of several measurements are further processed (8-10) for determining the mechanical stress or the fatigue condition in the steel. 2. Method according to claim 1, whereby the steel is magne¬ tized and demagnetized by means of arrangements known per se, characterized in that these arrangements are employed for magnetizing the steel at selected points of the initial, the anhysteretic and the hysteresis magnetization curve at the location where the measurements take place, and that the transient potential drop is measured with reference to one or more of said magnetization curves and that the result of these measurements is utilized for determining the mechanical stress and/or the fatigue condition in the steel. 3. Method according to claim 1 - 2, characterized in that the repeated sampling of the transient potential drop is carried out over several periods of the applied pulse shaped current and that on the basis of these measurements average values relating to the transient potential drop are computed. 4. Method according to one or more of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the steel when required is demagnetized by the application of an alternating current having a gradu¬ ally diminishing amplitude down to zero, through said first pair of contact points which is employed for the injection of the pulse shaped current. 5. Method according to one or more of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that both initial and later measurements are carried out at a location which is subjected to mechanical load and a location which is not loaded and that the results of these measurements are utilized for determining the change in the mechanical stress and/or the fatigue condition in the steel in relation to what was the case at the time of the initial measurement. 6. Method according to one or more of claims 1 - 4, characterized in that both initial and later measurements are carried out at a location which is subjected to mechanical load and a location which is not loaded and that the results of these measurements are utilized for determining the maximum mechanical stress through which the steel has been subjected since the time of the initial measurement.

Inventors: HOGNESTAD HAAREK, HOGNESTAD, HAAREK
Applicants: HOGNESTAD HAAREK, HOGNESTAD, HAAREK
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G01L1
IPC codes: G01L1, G01N33