Principle of Metal Magnetic Memory Method

Metal Magnetic Memory Testing (MMMT) is one of the most potential non-destructive testing
technologies, which can effectively distinguish the stress concentration zone. In most situations, it can
be used to provide early diagnosis and dynamic analysis for casing damages. Based on the basic
principles of MMMT technology, the research is aimed to create integrated prototype equipment for
the magnetic field detection and provide more precise results through experiment analysis.
Introduction
Ferromagnetic pipeline brings out magnetic field because of the reaction of magnetic induction with
the magnetic field of the earth. When there are no defects in the pipe the magnetic force lines are
almost in level. When some defect happen, a deformation will occur in the magnetic force line of the
pipe body; this deformation of the magnetic force lines corresponds to the size and location of the
pipeline defect. The defect can be identified by decoding the information of the pipeline magnetic
force lines. Ideal buried pipelines have a magnetic dipole due to earth geomagnetic field. When the
local magnetic field lines passes through the defective area of the pipeline a disturbance will occur in
the geomagnetic field. The small change or disturbance is added to the Earth field vector; resulting a
total field vector F.

Fig.1. Magnetism of a pipe due to geomagnetic field

Characteristics of Ferromagnetic materials

Magnetic induction occurs in the ferromagnetic pipelines due to magnetic field of the earth; which
makes pipe body act as a magnet, bringing out magnetic field. The expression of magnetic field
intensity in space Cartesian-coordinate is shown in Figure.

Fig.2. Expression of magnetic field intensity in space Cartesian-coordinate

The magnetic field intensity generated by ferromagnetic pipeline is denoted by (B). B x, By and Bz are
the x, y and z components of the magnetic field in x, y and z direction respectively. Similarly B xoy is
the horizontal component of magnetic field in the xoy plane. Angle of B and B xoy is denoted by alpha
() and angle between Bxoy and x-axis is denoted by beta ().
Where

B 2=B2x + B2y +B 2z

B 2xoy =B2x + B2y

B x =B xoy . cos

B y =Bxoy . sin

tan =

By
Bx

B z =B . sin

B xoy =B . cos

tan =

Bz
B xoy

Ferromagnetism is the basic mechanism by which certain materials (such as iron) form permanent
magnets, or are attracted to magnets. When an external magnetic field is applied to a ferromagnetic
material such as iron, the atomic dipoles align themselves with it. Even when the field is removed,
part of the alignment will be retained: the material has become magnetized. Once magnetized, the
magnet will stay magnetized indefinitely. To demagnetize it requires heat or a magnetic field in the
opposite direction. The shape and area of initial magnetization curve and hysteresis loop express the
technical characteristics of ferromagnetic materials. Basic properties of ferromagnetic materials
depend upon the magnetic anisotropy which is the directional dependence of a material's magnetic
properties and magnetostriction that causes the ferromagnetic materials to change their shape or
dimensions during the process of magnetization. The magnetization process can be divided into four
stages.
Reversible Magnetization
In the first stage the external magnetic field is smaller; the volume of some magnetic domains
expands through the movement of domain wall. In this way the ferromagnetic material is magnetized.
However when the external magnetic field is removed, the domain wall come back to its original
place. Therefore the process seems to be reversible as the ferromagnetic material will be back to its
neutral state again.
In the second stage when the intensity of the magnetic field is higher than the first stage, the
magnetization curve of the ferromagnetic material raises rapidly; making it to be magnetized more
quickly. This is an irreversible process, i.e. even the external magnetic field is removed still the
position of the domain wall does not come back to its original position.
Further increasing the intensity of external magnetic field, the movement of magnetic domain of the
ferromagnetic material has been basically completed. This time only the rotation of magnetic moment
and magnetic domain will increase the magnetization of ferromagnetic material. Furthermore, the

direction of magnetic domain and magnetic moment will get close to the direction of external
magnetic field which further increases the intensity of magnetization in the external magnetic field. In
normal circumstances both reversible and irreversible processes occur in this stage.
The fourth stage is the saturation stage of the ferromagnetic material. Although the intensity of
external magnetic field enhances, the magnetization intensity of the ferromagnetic material reaches
the value

Mr ;

which is known as the saturation remenance. At this stage the magnetization

intensity can be recovered to zero if a magnetic field in reverse direction is applied.

Fig.3. Magnetization curve

The intensity of the external magnetic field will be intrinsic coercivity

H CM This process is the

reversal magnetization of the ferromagnetic material.

Fig.4. Reversal magnetization curve

Demagnetization is the reduction or elimination of magnetization. One way to do this is to heat the
object above its Curie temperature, where thermal fluctuations have enough energy to overcome
exchange interactions, the source of ferromagnetic order, and destroy that order. Another way is to
pull it out of an electric coil with alternating current running through it, giving rise to fields that
oppose the magnetization.
The non-contact magnetic diagnostics significantly improves the process of decision making and
pipeline management, as it provides essential information about pipelines actual technical condition.
It guaranties correct choice of the pipeline sections subject to replacement or repair.
Nowadays the general overhaul of pipelines is carried out basically by a method of complete
replacement of pipes with stoppage and dismantling of repaired sections. It requires significant

expenses. In some instances a random repair based on estimation of experts is carried out for the
objects unavailable for the in-line inspection. But world experience testifies that repair based on
random opening of pipes and non-destructive testing in separate pits is ineffective. Electrometric
measurements do not give trustworthy information of metal state along all pipeline length and cannot
predict its reliability.
Right up to the present time only the data of in-line inspection served as the background for
establishing priorities in repair. Unfortunately this basic method is not always applicable for
inspection of certain pipelines particularly in urban municipal and gas distribution economy, pipelines
of compressor and pumping stations, refineries and field and old production pipes.
What are the reasons? Below some of them are presented.
1. Lack of flaw detecting tools for all pipe diameters (oil-field, urban pipelines, and facilities of old
constructions),
2. Lack of technical availability of a pipeline to the inspection (welding burr, pipe inner washers).
Besides there are economic reasons constraining such inspection: in particular the high price of tool
launching preparatory works; expensive cleaning and preparation of a pipeline for the inspection. In
particular, the technique of pipeline condition estimation from the point of view of safety is used.
Analysis of the problem of pipelines technical condition estimation shows that the weakest point is
determination of an actual level of local stress concentration in a field of defect or in a faulty place.
The estimation of serviceability of a pipeline is made precisely on this parameter. Defects essentially
differ in hazard degree not so much in connection with their dimensions but first of all in a level of
stress concentration in the field of defect. While in service the destruction of pipe metal occurs after
stress in the field of defect achieves a critical value. The critical level of local stress depends on
physical and mechanical properties of metal and also on local impact conditions.
Fig 2 shows the disturbances in the dipoles shape due to defects and irregularities in the pipeline. The
permanent magnetization intensity in pipelines depends on its depth and its defects.

Fig.5. Disturbances in defective pipes

If there is more imperfection the signal peak will be stronger and narrower. Similarly, if the pipe is
buried too deep then the signal will be wider and weaker. Through MMMT we can identify different
level of damages considering the F factor which is the qualitative value of the disturbances detected.
Disturbances near to zero will require immediate attention.
Table 1: Magnetic Anomalies Degree

Class

Technical state

In Admissible
Top Priority

Allowable
Scheduled Repair

Acceptable
Monitoring without repair

Nowadays practically all existing flaw detectors including in-line tools do not register actual values of
mechanical stress therefore do not show the degree of the defect hazard. Besides the majority of
known flaw detectors do not detect the areas of residual weld stress and areas with residual plastic
deformation. And as a consequence a hazard degree of the found defects is determined by the
calculation method from their dimensions and topology.
Is there a possibility of the actual technical state inspection of pipelines including ones where the
in-line inspection on technical or other reasons is not possible?
In recent years providing access to the tested object (in excavated check pits) diagnosing of
metalwork technical condition considering stress conditions by the metal magnetic memory method
has made a good progress. This method is based on the use of magneto-elastic and magnetomechanical effects.
While operating the pipelines under the influence of various factors (deformation and pipe rolling
defects, metal loss - internal and external corrosion, etc.) there arises the changes of metal structure
and the zones of longitudinal and transverse stresses concentration occur. The faulty weld also
increases stress. Such defects as pipe geometry changes (compression marks, corrugations, out-ofroundness), scores, guide marks, etc. also are stress concentrators. In the process of operating a
pipeline the irreversible change of metal magnetization arises in the direction of maximal stresses
caused by workloads.
The non-contact magnetic diagnostics of pipeline technical condition by magnetic tomography
method is based on measuring of magnetic field and analysis of relative distribution of residual
magnetization of base metal and weld joints along pipeline axis. Natural magnetization developed in
the process of pipeline production and operation in geomagnetic field is taken into consideration.
The self-magnetic field of the pipeline is scanned through MTM technology.

The obtained

information is automatically memory-stored. Then the data are mathematically and statistically
processed and compared with the database received earlier. It allows to localize a situation of
anomalies of metal stress-deformed condition sites in the areas of defects and to estimate the value of
the anomalies. As a result the defects of metal are revealed on extensive sections of a pipeline and
arranged in order of hazard degree. Dangerous defects require urgent excavation and additional
testing in pits for identification and hazard estimation during pre-repair inspection. Potentially
hazardous defects are included in a scheduled repair or monitoring program.

The magnetic tomography method allows us to determine the following types of metal defects.
1

Metal loss - under film corrosion (local corrosion damages underneath the insulation coating
which lost adhesion), or internal corrosion, that is deviation in pipe wall thickness (local

pitting corrosion, groove corrosion),

Stress corrosion cracking (low pH SCC of pipeline steels), crack-like defects (laps, rolling

3
4

skins, guide marks),

Weld defects,
Anomalies of stress-deformed conditions caused by failure in pipeline stability or mechanical
damages: compression marks, corrugations, deviation from the design laying axle.

Areas of application of the magnetic tomography method are not only in oil and gas sectors but also
urban municipal and gas distributing networks as well as other facilities of pipeline transport where
the in-line inspection is hampered or is not possible (for example technological pipelines of
compressor gas distributing or oil pumping stations).
One more advantage of this method is a possibility of diagnostics of underwater (river/seabed)
pipeline sections.
Additional advantages of the non-contact magnetic method are:
1. High quickness and technical effectiveness of inspection; allowing to carry out the complete work
package on diagnostics, design work and overhaul repair of the pipeline in extremely deadlines.
2. Accuracy in metal defects positioning.
To reduce an error in defect positioning during an in-line inspection it is necessary to make a
calculation with proper corrections. But it leads to inevitable systematic errors and as a result the
length of pits opened for the additional flaw detection is rather big. On the contrary in the process of
non-contact inspection the error of positioning is considerably cut down because the same system of
distance measuring is used while inspecting and defects positioning.
3. The length of pipeline sections to be inspected is not limited. It can be 1m in the field of defect, or
large-scale operations on several objects can be carried out simultaneously by several teams that will
allow executing complete volume of diagnostics of a large pipeline network during a season.
4. Monitoring of potentially hazardous defects which have not reached rejection parameters yet.
The non-contact technology provides an optimum mode of repeated inspection according to any plan
within the framework of technical necessity. On the contrary receiving information on defect growth
rate by means of in-line inspection monitoring is economically inexpedient because it requires
expensive repeated run of in-line tools.