Lowest remnant thickness estimation using Staircase Magnetostrictive Patch (ScaMP) Transducer

Wall thickness reduction, which typically results from corrosion, erosion, or operating conditions, is a significant challenge in many industries. In order to generate a broadband pure shear horizontal wave mode in plate structures, this paper proposes a magnetostrictive patch transducer called the Staircase Magnetostrictive Patch (ScaMP) Transducer. For ScaMP transduction, an optimised patch width offers a broadband frequency response is employed. The lowest remnant thickness of the sample was estimated using the wideband SH1 dispersive guided wave mode's cut-off property. The broad frequency excitation method enabled measurement over a range of wall thinning up to 80% of the nominal thickness with a single data acquisition. Experiments were carried out on an 8 mm nominal wall thickness aluminium plate with gouge defects to evaluate the proposed sensor's broad frequency response. The measurement of remnant thickness was estimated with a maximum error of 5.5%.