An Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer With Electromagnetic Pulse Restraining

Electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) are widely used in non-destructive testing (NDT). However, when ultrasonic waves are excited, the transmitting coil generates a strong alternating magnetic field, resulting in the generation of an electromagnetic pulse. To address this problem, an EMAT with electromagnetic pulse restraining is presented in this paper. First, the cause of the electromagnetic pulse is investigated. Second, the conditions for restraining the electromagnetic pulse using the new transmitting coil are analysed. Finally, the design method for the new transmitting coil is provided through evaluation of the magnetic field model of the new transmitting coil. The experimental results demonstrate that the new transmitting coil has a significant effect on the excitation of ultrasonic waves in the tested material and the restraining of electromagnetic pulses. Therefore, the method proposed in this study can self-compensate for the strong alternating magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil, reduce the interference of the electromagnetic pulse with the ultrasonic wave and improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of EMATs.