Directional magnetic Barkhausen noise measurement using the magnetic needle probe method

A directional local magnetic measurement technique as example of measuring the angular dependence of the magnetic Barkhausen noise in electrical and construction steels at typical quasi-static frequency by the magnetic needle probe (MNP) method is presented. The directional measurement configuration of the MNP method is typical of a half-turn search coil sensor coupled to high gain analogue amplification and high order filtration stages, owing to its very weak induced electromotive force. The method exploits the MBNenergy(H) hysteresis cycle (time integration of the square of the MBN voltage signal as a function of the tangent excitation field H) and brings forth stable indicators possibly related to the Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy Energy (MAE). Experimental tests performed on grain-oriented Fe-Si and low carbon steel specimens, and comparison with the conventional search coil measurement results were worth the validation of the MNP method. These results put to the front the good directional selectivity of the MNP method over the conventional MBN sensors adversely affected by the transverse fields at the material surface. Eventually, the printed magnetic needle probe (PMNP) sensor was relatedly described to provide non-invasive directional measurements for continuous structural health monitoring.