Portable Embedded System for Contactless Measurement of Material Conductivity

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) of metallic materials such as aluminium is a growing area that requires novel sensing solutions. From the several NDT methods, eddy currents testing is the preferred to inspect metallic parts and welding joints searching for flaws and other material discontinuities. Eddy currents sensors are devices capable of contactless assessment with high-resolution measurements of any conductive target. High resolution and tolerance in dirty environments make eddy currents sensors indispensable in modern industrial operations. One of the uses of eddy currents sensors is to measure electrical conductivity. The value of the electrical conductivity of a metal depends on its chemical composition and crystalline structure. This work presents the development, implementation and characterization of a compact embedded system for contactless metal conductivity measurements.