A new rotational field planar eddy current probe is proposed. The probe is combined with two orthogonal driver traces and a pickup coil that includes two-circular sector windings with series connection. Rotational eddy currents are induced by driver traces of the same amplitude and frequency, but fed with 90° phase different alternating exciting currents. An experimental demonstration using prototypes of the probes and artificial defects showed that the probe with a two-circular sector pickup coil is more sensitive for detecting the short defects than the probe with a circular pickup coil.
Keywords: eddy current testing; nondestructive testing; planar eddy current probe; rotational field.