EN ISO-3452-3 Reference Test Blocks for Eddy Current Array Testing

Testing Engineer: Wang Guoqing

Test Date: April 29, 2026

• Test Block and Defect Description

A total of three test blocks were inspected in this test. Two of them are aluminum welded flat plates with different types of defects fabricated at the weld seams, and the other one is a standard test block in accordance with EN ISO 3452-3.

(1) For Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 1, cracks and porosity defects are fabricated at the weld seam. The physical photo of the test block is shown in the figure below, and the approximate positions of the defects are marked with red elliptical frames.

Figure 1 Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 1

(2) Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 2 is processed with crack defects at the weld seam.

The physical photo of the test block is shown in the figure below, and the crack defect is marked by the red elliptical

frame.

Figure 2 Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 2

(3) The standard test block conforming to EN ISO-3452-3 has five star-shaped artificial defects machined

on its near surface. The physical image of the test block is shown in the figure below.

Figure 3 Standard Test Block of EN ISO-3452-3

• Introduction to Testing Equipment and Probes

The MEA-128 array eddy current testing device is adopted for this inspection.

The equipment features an aluminum-magnesium alloy housing with reinforced structure at four corners.

It is equipped with Ethernet, USB, HDMI, MIDI-DP and other interfaces,

which can meet diverse on-site testing requirements.

Figure 4 MEA-128

Considering the workpiece shape and defects of the area to be inspected, a semi-rigid array probe is

selectedfor this test. The probe has a coverage width of 54 mm and a center frequency of 250 kHz.

Figure 5 YT-BG-054-HR

• Test Results

(1) The weld seam of Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 1 was scanned by using a semi-rigid

array probe,and the inspection results are shown below.

The detected defect signals are marked in the red rectangular frames.

Figure 6 Test Results of Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 1

(2) Similarly, the weld seam of Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 2 was scanned, and the inspection results are shown as follows. The detected defect signal is marked by the red circular frame.

Figure 7 Test Results of Aluminum Welded Flat Plate Test Block 2

(3) Scanning was performed on the EN ISO-3452-3 standard test block in the direction shown in the

figure below, and the inspection results are presented in Figure 9.

Figure 8 Scanning of EN ISO-3452-3 Standard Test Block

Figure 9 Test Results of EN ISO-3452-3 Standard Test Block

• Conclusion

(1) According to the comprehensive inspection results of the test blocks, compared with conventional penetrant testing, array eddy current technology can inspect aluminum welded test blocks without complicated pre-treatment. It is environmentally friendly, safe and does not rely on any consumables.

(2) Array eddy current testing can generate defect atlas. Combined with an encoder, it enables accurate positioning of defect locations and quantitative measurement of defect lengths. The testing data can be stored, replayed and archived, facilitating subsequent quality traceability.

(3) For complex application scenarios, conformable sensors can be customized according to actual requirements and working conditions to adapt to scanning inspection.