Study on characterisation of non-uniform corrosion defects in ferromagnetic pipelines using pulsed eddy current signals

The operational integrity of industrial pipelines is critical to ensuring production efficiency and economic benefits. Corrosion defects, particularly non-uniform and pitting corrosion, can cause structural degradation and even catastrophic failures. Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) testing technology, with its broad signal spectrum and penetration capabilities, has become an effective non-destructive testing (NDT) method for detecting corrosion defects in ferromagnetic materials. However, most existing studies have focused on uniform corrosion defects, whereas the detection characteristics of non-uniform and pitting corrosion remain poorly investigated. Therefore, this study focuses on non-uniform corrosion and pitting corrosion defects in ferromagnetic materials, with an emphasis on analysing the influence of thickness variations caused by non-uniform corrosion and pitting defect areas on PEC signals. This work aims to provide a theoretical foundation for optimising the application of PEC in complex corrosive environments and technical support for the NDT of pressure pipelines.