Finite-element modeling of eddy-current nondestructive evaluation (NDE)

Quantitative eddy-current nondestructive evaluation is hampered by the lack of suitable models to describe the field/defect interaction. The governing partial differential equations admit of closed-form algebraic solution only in the most trivial of geometries. Finite-element methods hold out the hope of providing numerical solutions for more complex cases. In this paper certain effectively two-dimensional eddy-current problems are considered, previous analytical results being used to validate the computations wherever feasible. The extension to three-dimensional fields, which is outlined here, is treated in detail in a subsequent paper.