Analytical model for tilted coils in eddy-current nondestructive inspection

The electromagnetic field and impedance of a cylindrical eddy-current probe coil are calculated analytically for arbitrary coil orientation above a conductive half-space. The remarkably simple closed-form expressions are provided as a function of coil tilt angle. The effect of tilt on the impedance change produced by a long crack is also investigated by combining the analytical model with an existing thin-skin theory for surface crack inspections. Results for both cracked and uncracked conductors are expected to be useful for evaluation of movement-generated noise in eddy-current inspections.