TWI's experts are constantly investigating new ways to use long range ultrasonic technologies, and find alternative applications. This work is done through TWI's usual project channels:
- Group Sponsored Projects
- Collaborative Projects
- Core Research Projects
- Single Sponsor Projects - Since the project work for our customers is performed in the strictest confidence, we cannot give details of TWI's single sponsor projects. For more information on our single client projects, please contact us at lru@twi.co.uk
Group Sponsored Projects
Being formed
7373 Long range ultrasonic inspection
- Guided wave LRUT for screening
- Performance validation
- Phased array and swept frequency
- Development of guidelines
Completed
5686 Long-range ultrasonic inspection for petrochemical plant
- Large area technique
- Demonstrating performance in application
- Detection of flaws and corrosion
- Focussing detailed inspection effort
Current Collaborative Projects:
RISERTEST
Development of a guided long-range ultrasonic inspection system for the examination of offshore subsea risers, steel catenary risers (SCRs) and flowlines.
PIPESCAN
Development of systems for the inspection of metal pipelines buried underground, in concrete, in water or covered with coatings.
OPCOM
Development of ultrasonic guided wave inspection technology for the condition monitoring of offshore structures.
LRUCM
Long range ultrasonic condition monitoring of engineering assets. Visit website:
www.lrucm.eu.com
TankInspect
Condition monitoring of large oil and chemical storage tanks using ultrasonic guided wave tomography without the need to empty and clean the tanks.
Development of phased array and swept frequency guided wave long range ultrasonic techniques for fitness for service assessment of pipe corrosion.
A key technology for direct assessment of buried pipelines - validation and enhancement of long range guided wave ultrasonic testing.
Core Research Projects
0401-7 Guided wave phased array technology for assessing corrosion in pipelines
Objectives
- To find the most effective techniques for focussing guided waves into one region of the pipe.
- To determine the scope of the focussing technique for a range of pipe geometries.
- To assess the potential for sizing corrosion defects using modelling techniques for focussing of guided waves.
0401-15 Validation of theoretical models for focussed/phased array ultrasonic inspection of clad pipes
Objectives
- To validate theoretical models for focussed and/or phased array ultrasonic techniques for the inspection of clad pipes.
- To demonstrate detection performance of focussed and/or phased array ultrasonic techniques for clad pipe.
0401-18 Piezodiagnostics - smart structural diagnostics using piezo-generated elastic waves
Objectives
- To develop a smart piezo-diagnostics technology with the potential of long distance operation (wave propagation for distances greater than 1km) thereby overcoming the requirement for close proximity between the wave-generator,
sensors and potential defects.
- To develop an associated data processing methodology enabling real-time monitoring, multi-damage detection and it s precise identification (dispersed locations and intensities).
- To develop a prototype installation for remote monitoring.
- To evaluate the developed monitoring system, in laboratory and industrial conditions.