Measurement of residual stress in steel using the magnetic Barkhausen noise technique

Surface residual stresses on a structural beam steel sample were evaluated using a non-destructive technique based on the measurement of surface magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN). MBN measurements were performed using a high resolution probe consisting of a small magnetic read head mounted between the poles of a ferrite U-core magnet. Applied stress magnitudes were correlated to MBN energy levels for calibration purposes. MBN energy measurements were done at various locations on the steel sample. The magnitude of the residual stress component along the sample beam axis was evaluated across the width of the beam using these calibration curves. The range of sensitivity of the MBN signal to stress as defined by the calibration curves was limited by the direction of easy magnetization. The effect of stress on the MBN signal was interpreted in terms of the active 180° domain wall population. The validity of the residual stress results was confirmed experimentally using conventional methods: cutting and sectioning and hole drilling. Possible sources of residual stresses and their distribution on the structural steel specimen are discussed.