Sensing of Irregularities on Fast Moving Surfaces by Microwaves and Millimeterwaves

Abstract

Fine cracks and irregularities on a fast moving conducting surface were detected by the use of microwave and millimeter wave radio responder techniques. The interrogation angle was restricted to an oblique incidence angle less than ±0.5 degree from the surface. The fast moving conducting surface was surrounded by both fast moving and stationary reflective conducting structures. Experimental methods and results from a fine crack 0.1 mm wide, 0.9 mm deep, and 25 mm long on a conducting surface travelling with a speed of 20.23 m/s and measured at 10.525 GH(z) and 73 GH(z) are presented. The reflection-type microwave radio responder consisted of a 10.525 GH(z) 50 mW Gunn diode cw transmitter, a circulator, and a horn antenna used as the interrogator. The receiver in the same responder consisted of the same horn antenna, the circulator and detector diode. The detector diode output was observed with a Norland 3106R digital memory oscilloscope. A reflex kylstron VA 250 was used as the transmitter signal source for the millimeter wave responder. There was a distinct difference between the responder output patterns with uncracked and cracked surfaces. It is therefore possible to use this type of responder for hair-line crack detection of fast moving conducting surfaces. It was also found that this type of radio responder can detect the surface irregularity even before the hairline crack actually occurs.