Geometrical optimization of sensors for eddy currents. Non destructive testing and evaluation

Design of NDT and NDE sensors is possible by solving Maxwell´s relations with FEM or BIM. But the large number of geometrical and electrical parameters of sensor and tested material implies that many results do not give necessarily a well adapted sensor. The authors have used a genetic algorithm for automatic optimization. After having tested this algorithm with analytical solution of Maxwell´s relations for cladding thickness measurement, the method has been implemented in a finite element package and applied to the design of a sensor for tracks detection under installed fasteners in an aircraft structure