A high-precision TMR sensor array system for detecting surface and internal defects in thin sheet of steel

The online detection of small defects within thin steel holds significant importance in the field of steel manufacturing. This paper presents a high-precision flux leakage measurement system based on tunneling magnetoresistance sensors for detecting small defects in thin steel. We optimized the probe size and magnetic circuit design through numerical simulations and used the developed instrument to detect a standard mimicking through-hole defect plate, achieving a high signal-to-noise ratio and successfully detecting artificial defects small to a diameter of 50 μm. Additionally, we detected an actual internal defect in thin steel provided by the steel plant, meeting the required industrial accuracy. The data acquisition process in this study has been optimized to achieve real-time display and defect localization. The measurement scheme proposed in this paper has great potential for online monitoring of the thin steel production process.