Detection of Weld Defects in Steel Pipes Using Coaxial Magnetic Induction Sensor: Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation
Corresponding email: winarto.msc@ui.ac.id
Published at : 28 Jan 2026
Volume : IJtech
Vol 17, No 1 (2026)
DOI : https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v17i1.8211
| Kurnia Nugraha | 1. Department of Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia 2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Univers |
| Winarto Winarto | Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon 42434, Indonesia |
| Didied Haryono | 1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon 42434, Indonesia 2. Laboratorium Advanced Materials and Tomography, Engineering Faculty |
| Imamul Muttakin | 1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon, 42434, Indonesia 2. Laboratorium Advanced Materials and Tomography, Engineering Faculty, |
| Amalia Sholehah | 1. Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon 42434, Indonesia 2. Laboratorium Advanced Materials and Tomography, Engineering Faculty |
| Agusutrisno M. Nurut | 1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon, 42434, Indonesia 2. Laboratorium Advanced Materials and Tomography, Engineering Faculty, |
| Rizki Kurniawan | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon, 42434, Indonesia |
| Nazwa Raudya Tuzahra | Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Cilegon 42434, Indonesia |
Weld defects in high-pressure piping systems are critical initiation points for leakage, rupture, or explosion, leading to severe safety hazards and economic losses. Therefore, reliable and early detection methods are essential for ensuring the integrity of industrial pipelines. Radiographic testing (RT) is widely used because of its ability to produce detailed internal images. However, RT relies on hazardous ionizing radiation, requires certified operators, and incurs high operational costs. These limitations drive the need for safer and more efficient alternatives. Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) is a radiation-free, non-contact, and operationally simple method; however, its insufficient spatial resolution and sensitivity, especially for sub-millimeter flaws, limit its industrial deployment. To address these challenges, a coaxial magnetic induction (CMI) sensor specifically engineered for weld-defect detection is developed and evaluated in this study. The sensor employs a concentric transmitter-receiver configuration that enhances electromagnetic coupling, improves spatial resolution, and suppresses external noise compared with conventional sensing architectures. In this report, we employ controlled laboratory experiments, impedance-based signal analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) to systematically investigate the sensor’s response to defects. Experiments conducted on steel plates and welded pipes containing 0.5-2.0 artificial defect revealed a clear proportional relationship between the defect size and the induced-voltage variation. Statistical validation confirmed excellent measurement repeatability (CV < 2.5%) and significant separation between the defective and nondefective groups (p < 0.01). These results confirm that the proposed CMI sensor addresses the critical limitations of conventional MIT systems and offers a safer, radiation-free, and cost-efficient approach to weld-defect detection, thereby meeting the industrial safety requirements highlighted at the outset.
Coaxial sensor; Magnetic induction tomography; Non-destructive testing; Steel pipes; Weld defects
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231503.png | Figure 1 Fundamental principles of the CMI sensor |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231540.png | Figure 2 Coaxial magnetic induction (CMI) sensor model |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231626.png | Figure 3 Portable testing device used in the experimental stage |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231733.png | Figure 4.a Receiver coil voltage vs frequency (constant resistance) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231819.png | Figure 4.b Receiver coil voltage vs frequency (constant transmitter voltage) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231855.png | Figure 5 Receiver coil voltage on the non-defective and defective specimens |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124231958.png | Figure 6.a Impedance values at 8 Hz–32 kHz on plate and pipe steel (Plate steel) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232039.png | Figure 6.b Impedance values at 8 Hz–32 kHz on plate and pipe steel (Pipe steel) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232127.png | Figure_7_a1_2D PCA (PC1_PC2_Plate) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232216.png | Figure_7_a2_2D PCA (PC1_PC3_Plate) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232254.png | Figure_7_a3_2D PCA (PC2_PC3_Plate) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232328.png | Figure_7_b1_2D PCA (PC1_PC2_Pipe) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232356.png | Figure_7_b2_2D PCA (PC1_PC3_Pipe) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232425.png | Figure_7_b3_2D PCA (PC2_PC3_Pipe) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232456.png | Figure_8a_3D PCA (Plate) |
| R1-MME-8211-20251124232526.png | Figure_8b_3D PCA (Pipe) |
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