Introduction To Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Ultrasonic test instruments have been used in industrial applications for more than sixty years. Since the 1940s, the laws of physics that govern the propagation of high frequency sound waves through solid materials have been used to detect hidden cracks, voids, porosity, and other internal discontinuities in metals, composites, plastics, and ceramics, as well as to measure thickness and analyze material properties.

Conventional UT Basic Theory Sound waves are simply organized mechanical vibrations traveling through a medium. These waves will travel through a given medium at a specific speed or velocity, in a predictable direction, and when they encounter a boundary with a different medium they will be reflected or transmitted according to simple rules.

Conventional UT Basic Theory 2 4 6 8 10 initial pulse Piezoelectric Transducer back surface echo crack echo crack plate Oscilloscope, or flaw detector screen

Conventional UT Probe Configuration With a conventional UT probe, a single piezoelectric element converts an electrical signal into a mechanical vibration. Source: NDT Resource Center (www.ndt-ed.org)

Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)

What we see in Medical Ultrasonic Test

What is the Difference in Medical Ultrasonogram and Phased Array Ultrasonic Test? Nothing Special, Both are Phased Array Ultrasonic Test Medical Industrial

Phased Array Probe Configuration Essentially, a phased-array probe is a long conventional probe cut into many small elements, which are individually excited.

Phased Array Probe Configuration It is like having many small conventional UT probes integrated inside a single probe. … 128 elements !

How Does Phased Array Work?

Phased Array Angle Coverage Angle beam covers from angle 40o to 70o with 1o angle increment. 30˚

Olympus OmniScan SX Phased Array Equipment

A-Scan, S-Scan and C-Scan

Weld Overlay System Full weld overlay system that enables to visualize the relative position of indications in relation to the weld geometry. Easily Configure the Weld Geometry in the equipment. Such as type of weld joint, weld preparation angle, bevel height, bevel width, root gap, root face, thickness of the specimen etc.

Defect Positioning Defect Positioning

Defect Sizing Image sizing cursors available for X2 – X1 and/or Y2 – Y1 indication sizing Defect can be accurately sized X-direction i.e. defect length Y-direction i.e. defect depth

Phased Array C-Scan: Report with complete information Immediate report from the equipment can be transferable through pen drive.

Phased Array Ultrasonic Test Application Ship Welding Power Plant Gas Pipe Weld Gas Field Pipe Line Weld Power Plant Boiler Tube

Phased Array Ultrasonic Test Application Steel Structure Weld Small Boiler Weld Inspection

Comparison of RT and PAUT

Radiography – Practical Problems Radiation safety Licensing Disruption to work area Chemical wastes Large volumes of film Film storage and deterioration Subjective interpretation Relatively slow inspection RT cannot size in vertical plane RT poor at detecting planar defects.

PAUT vs. RT Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) potentially offers solutions to ECA Capability of vertical sizing Better detection of critical planar defects Inspections tailored to weld profile and defects Generally PAUT has better detection than RT, especially for cracks Many trials performed globally Overall results support PAUT as better quality inspections.

Economics of PAUT vs. RT Higher licensing costs for RT Major headaches in shipping and storing isotopes Higher cost in waste disposal, storage etc. Cheaper PAUT Inspection Cost No film cost in PAUT No chemical cost in PAUT No production interruption in PAUT.

Sample Comparison of RT vs. PAUT Radiography Root Crack Phased Array Image

Sample Comparison of RT vs. PAUT Radiography Porosity Phased Array Image

Sample Comparison of RT vs. PAUT Radiography Inclusion Phased Array Image

Sample Comparison of RT vs. PAUT Radiography Lack of Root Fusion Phased Array Image

Sample Comparison of RT vs. PAUT Radiography Concave of Root Phased Array Image

PAUT vs. RT Advantages

PAUT vs. RT Advantages Many functional advantages from switching from RT to PAUT. No radiation No licensing No chemical wastes Less subjective data interpretation Minimizes data storage problems Minimizes materials handling issues Minimizes production disruptions Better detection of planar defects Can size in vertical plane for ECA Lower reject rates Fast and cost effective

PAUT Code Updates

Codes ASME Code Case N- 659-2 permits Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) for Replacement of RT with PAUT for feeder tubes in nuclear reactor. ASME CC 2541 Permits Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) in Section V, Article 4. ASME CC 2235-9 permits UT in lieu of RT in Section VIII, Divisions 1 and 2. ASME CC 2557 permits PAUT S-Scan in Section V, Article 4. ASTM has published three Standard Practices: 2491, 2700, 2904 ISO, Chinese, Japanese working on PAUT codes.

Thank You Any Questions?