New procedures for in situ measurement of the magnetic properties of materials: applications of the magnescope

The authors describe the magnescope, an instrument which is capable of making in situ magnetic measurements and evaluating the condition of materials through their magnetic properties. Measurements can be made easily and rapidly through the use of expert system software containing precise algorithms for the various magnetic procedures. The various inspection procedures contained in the software make the instrument very flexible, and since they are in software, new procedures can be easily added, allowing evaluation of the instrument to meet new needs. The organization of this instrument is discussed, together with some of the procedures incorporated into the software allowing a wide range of magnetic parameters to be calculated from a few simple measurements. Specific magnetic parameters that are affected by applied stress, residual stress, fatigue damage, creep damage, temper embrittlement, and grain boundary segregation have been determined