scholarly journals PULSE-ECHO PHASED ARRAY ULTRASONIC INSPECTION OF PULTRUDED ROD STITCHED EFFICIENT UNITIZED STRUCTURE (PRSEUS)

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Johnston ◽  
Donald O. Thompson ◽  
Dale E. Chimenti
Keyword(s):  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Pulse Echo

Review of Ultrasonic Phased Arrays for Pressure Vessel and Pipeline Weld Inspections

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Moles ◽  
Noël Dubé ◽  
Simon Labbé ◽  
Ed Ginzel
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Beam Steering ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Construction Costs ◽  
Array Technology ◽  
Weld Profile ◽  
Asme Code ◽  
Pulse Echo

Major improvements in weld inspection are obtained using Phased Array technology with capability for beam steering, electronic scanning, focusing, and sweeping the ultrasonic beams. Electronic scanning is much faster than raster scanning, and can optimize angles and focusing to maximize defect detection. Pressure vessel (PV) inspections typically use “top, side, end” or “top, side, TOFD” views, though other imaging is possible. Special inspections can be performed, e.g., for specific defects, or increased coverage. Defects can be sized by pulse-echo as per code, by time-of-flight Diffraction or by back diffraction. New PV inspection codes, particularly ASME Code Case 2235, permit the use of advanced ultrasonic inspection techniques. Pipeline girth weld inspections use a unique inspection approach called “zone discrimination,” and have their own series of codes. While similar equipment is used in pipeline as in PV inspections, the pipeline philosophy is to tailor the inspection to the weld profile and predicted lack of fusion defects. Pipeline displays are specifically designed for near real-time data analysis. Both ASME CC 2235 and the pipeline codes permit the use of Fitness-For-Purpose, which reduces construction costs. Overall, phased array systems meet or exceed all PV and pipeline codes.

Coke Drum Weld Inspection

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
John McMillan
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Single Pass ◽  
Weld Region ◽  
Time Of Flight Diffraction ◽  
Grey Scale ◽  
Areas Of Concern ◽  
Pulse Echo

Conventional Ultrasonic Inspection of Coke Drums may require the use of Automated Pulse Echo or Time of Flight Diffraction Techniques (TOFD). The more recent application of Phased Array ultrasonic technology enables a faster and more accurate location and depth discrimination of the cracks detected in the welds. Pulse Echo ultrasonic inspection requires the use of three transducers from each side of the weld. A zero degree compression transducer and two angle transducers, most likely 60° or 70°. The advantage of this techniques is that it provides positional information as to the location of the crack in the weld and accurate length measurement. The problem is that additional techniques have to be used to determine the depth of any cracks detected. An alternative to Pulse Echo inspection is the Time of Flight Diffraction technique. The TOFD technique uses multimode transducers to insonify the weld region with Lateral, Compression and Shear Wave ultrasound. The technique accurately detects and determines the length and depth of reflectors in the weld region. The technique was initially developed for the Nuclear Industry as a sizing technique. More recently it has become used for detection and sizing of flaws. The TOFD technique does not place the flaw in the cross section of the weld in order to achieve this another technique such as Pulse Echo Ultrasound is required. The TOFD technique is not sensitive to small flaws which are open to either surface. In order to detect small flaws such as “Toe Cracks” a supplementary technique such as ACFM or Eddy Current inspection may be required. The illustration shows the format of the sound generated from a TOFD transducer arrangement. The advantage for welds < 1.50" in thickness is that careful selection of the transducers and appropriate spacing may allow the weld to be inspected in a single pass. The illustration below shows two displays, an unrectified “RF” display which corresponds to which ever cursor is active and a grey scale display adjacent. The Grey Scale Display is a stacked “RF” display where each vertical line correspond to a single location along the line of the weld non-conforming perturbations in the display indicate areas of concern which can be identified by length and depth as shown in the boxes at the lower left of the illustration. The first significant amplitude group on the grey scale display corresponds to the Lateral Wave, the second the Compression and the third the Shear Wave. Flaws detected between the Lateral and the Compression Wave are often repeated between the Compression and the Shear Waves. Phased Array technology has been available for some time, however only recently has the software been able to display the data in a format which provides clear data which can be used to locate and size of the flaws in a variety of weld configurations. Coke Drums have several significant areas of concern, Weld Seams which may be Shell to Shell, Shell to Head or Shell to Skirt format. We will consider the Circumferential Shell weld and the Skirt weld at this time. The photographs show a shell seam which reduces in section for this example the weld was inspected from one side only. The signals were corrected for Beam Path Length and the amplitudes of the signals were equalized for angle. The following data were collected: Two Notches were machined in the plate one either side of the weld on the underside. The plate was then scanned from one, the thicker, side using the Phased Array probe. The reflectors which were the same depth are depicted with a similar amplitude at their correct relative positions, one on the near and the other on the far side of the weld root. With the signals equalized all the reflector were detected from a single scan location and with similar amplitudes. The Skirt to Shell weld was simulated in a solid piece of carbon steel. EDM notch reflectors were machined in the samples at critical locations. The critical angles were calculated which would produce reflections from each of the potential crack areas and the Phased Array inspection was performed to verify the calculations. A single plot is shown as an example, containing the reflector on the Shell side near the crotch on the inside of the weld. The illustration shows the sound path of the Phased Array which detects a reflector close to the crotch on the inside between the Skirt and the Shell. Discriminating this flaw with conventional ultrasonic inspection would be extremely difficult. It is the ability of the Phased Array Sector Scan to use multiple angles on a single pass which enables flaws at multiple locations and angles to be detected by a line scan and imaged at their relative location.

Automated Ultrasonic Inspection of Pressure Vessel Welds

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Moles ◽  
Simon Labbe´
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Testing ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Safety Hazard ◽  
Asme Code ◽  
Conventional Systems ◽  
Pulse Echo ◽  
Inspection Techniques ◽  
Production Inspection

ASME Code Case 2235 now permits automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) instead of radiography for vessels 0.5” (12.7 mm) or greater. Ultrasonic testing has significant advantages over radiography: no safety hazard so no disruption of production; inspection as soon as component cools; rapid feedback; defect vertical sizing for Fitness-For-Purpose applications; tailored inspections. ASME CC 2235 permits a variety of inspection techniques based on pulse-echo and Time-Of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD), provided a Performance Demonstration is achieved. This paper describes a number of AUT systems which fulfill the ASME code case. These AUT systems range from a portable phased array system (Omniscan) for low cost and convenience, through conventional systems based on TOFD (μ-Tomoscan), general phased array systems (Tomoscan III) to premium systems with multiple NDE approaches. With such a variety of technologies and costs, AUT systems can be tailored to the client’s needs.

scholarly journals Capability of Advanced Ultrasonic Inspection Technologies for Hydraulic Turbine Runners

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 4681
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ebrahim Bajgholi ◽  
Gilles Rousseau ◽  
Martin Viens ◽  
Denis Thibault
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Hydraulic Turbine ◽  
Francis Turbine ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Critical Range ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Ambitious Program ◽  
Pulse Echo

This paper presents the results of a project aimed at evaluating the performance of ultrasonic techniques for detecting flaws in Francis turbine runners. This work is the first phase of a more ambitious program aimed at improving the reliability of inspection of critical areas in turbine runners. Francis runners may be utilized to supply power during peak periods, which means that they experience additional load stress associated with start and stop sequences. Inspection during manufacturing is then of paramount importance to remove as much as feasible all flaw initiation sites before the heat treatment. This phase one objective is to collect initial data on a simplified mock-up and then to compare the experimental ultrasonic data with the results of simulations performed by CIVA, a computer simulation package. The area of interest is the region with the highest stress between the blade and the web. A welded T-joint coupon made of UNS S41500 was manufactured to represent this high-stress area. During the FCAW welding process, ceramic beads were embedded in the weld to create discontinuities whose size is in the critical range to initiate a crack. Inspection of the material was carried out by various nondestructive testing (NDT) methods namely conventional pulse-echo, phased array, total focusing method (TFM). With these results, detection rates were obtained in order to compare the effectiveness of each method.

scholarly journals Inspection of the Composite Materials

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Yaser A. Jasim ◽  
Senan Thabet ◽  
Thabit H. Thabit
Keyword(s):  
Composite Materials ◽  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Magnetic Particle ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Main Method ◽  
Destructive Test ◽  
Eddy Current Inspection ◽  
Non Destructive

<p><em>A non-destructive test method is the main method to examine most of the materials, composite materials in particular. There are too many </em><em>Non-Destructive Test (</em><em>NDT) methods to inspect the materials such as, Visual Inspection, Liquid Penetrate Inspection, Eddy-Current Inspection, Phased Array Inspection, Magnetic Particle Inspection and Ultrasonic Inspection</em><em>.</em></p><p><em>This paper aims to creat a unified methodology for engineers depending on reaserch onion to study the inspection of the composite materials.</em></p><p><em>The researchers concluded that NDT method is the most suitable method for testing any materials and the composite materials. They also recommended to choose the most suitable NDT method as every materials and composite materials have its own properties as well as the inspection methods had its own capabilities and limitations. </em></p>

Nondestructive Inspection Methods for Railroad Castings

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Carter ◽  
Kari Gonzales
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Particle ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Ultrasonic Pulse ◽  
Nondestructive Inspection ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Technology Center ◽  
Pulse Echo ◽  
Inspection Techniques

Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) has investigated various nondestructive inspection (NDI) methods to determine if they are capable of reliably inspecting side frames, bolsters, knuckles, and couplers. The NDI methods used for this investigation include dry and wet (fluorescent) magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, alcohol wipe, visual, ultrasonic (pulse-echo and phased array), and radiography. Inspection results from all methods were used to determine which methods produced repeatable results. From the initial inspection analysis, TTCI engineers determined that the magnetic particle inspection method is the most capable for detecting defects in railroad castings. Further investigation of the magnetic particle technique was completed to develop reliable inspection methods for use on bolsters, side frames, knuckles, and couplers. Each of the inspection techniques have been used for inspections in the field. Using the results of the field tests, procedures were developed by TTCI and submitted to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Coupling Systems and Truck Castings Committee for review and implementation. The inspection procedures can be used by manufacturers, railroads, and car repair shops. Limitations of the inspection procedures include the amount of time necessary to perform the inspection and the reliability of detecting certain types of defects below the surface of the casting. Although these limitations exist, the procedures developed by TTCI are expected to improve the quality of in-service castings and reduce the number of train partings and derailments due to broken or cracked components.

Automated In-Process Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection of Multipass Welds

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randika Kosala Wathavana Vithanage ◽  
Ehsan Mohseni ◽  
Zhen Qiu ◽  
Yashar Javadi ◽  
David Lines ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection

Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection of Metal Additive Manufacturing Parts

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Beatriz Lopez ◽  
João Santos ◽  
José Pedro Sousa ◽  
Telmo G. Santos ◽  
Luísa Quintino
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Metal Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Metal Additive
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