Reliability and sensitivity of magnetic particle nondestructive testing in detecting the surface cracks of welded components

Defects generated during a welding process, specifically surface cracks, have a significant impact on the safety of welded components. Therefore, the detection of these types of defects has a considerable effect on avoiding the failure of the components. Since each nondestructive testing technique has its own limitations in defect detection, evaluating the detection properties of such techniques would be key for the inspectors of welded structures to possess a more proper technique selection. Moreover, the properties can be obtained from a number of maintenance and fracture control procedures such as the damage tolerance design technique. Reliability and sensitivity, as common tools, are extensively utilised to assess detection properties. Magnetic particle nondestructive testing is often used in the surface crack detection of welded components. To use this crack detection technique wisely, the properties have to be considered. However, to date, there has not been a comprehensive study on the reliability and sensitivity of the technique in detecting the surface cracks of welded components. To fill the gap, in this research, based on experiments and an analysis of the obtained data, the reliability and sensitivity of the technique in detecting the surface cracks of welded components are attained and presented.