The Manual Ultrasonic Testing, is commonly referred to as ‘UT’. It is one of the more common Non Destructive Testing methods performed on materials. This testing utilises high frequency mechanical energy, i.e. sound waves, to conduct examinations and measurements on test area. Typically the UT inspection system consists of a transducer, pulser/receiver, and display unit. A pulser/receiver is an electronic device that can produce high voltage electrical pulses to the transducer. When driven by the pulser, the transducer generates high frequency ultrasonic sound energy into material in the form of sound waves. When there is discontinuities such as inclusion, porosity, crack, etc. in the sound path, part of the mechanical energy will be reflected from the discontinuities (reflectors) surfaces. The reflected sound waves signal received by the transducer is then transformed back into electrical signal and its intensity is illustrated on the displayed unit. Sound waves travel time can be directly related to the distance that the signal travelled. From the signal, information about reflector location, size, orientation and other features can be estimated.
Typical applications are flaw detection/evaluation of materials, material characterisation, dimensional measurements, and much more. Common applications includes flaw-detection of welds, castings & wrought products, small diameter medical tubing, rubber tires & conveyor belts, fiberglass boat hulls, contact lenses, etc.
TWI Resources
- Sonatest Masterscan 380M – manual UT
- GE Phasor XS – phased array
- Zetec Dynaray – phased array
- Olympus Omniscan MX – phased array
- Olympus Omniscan MX2 - phased array
- NDT Solutions EUI-AFG – c-scan system
- Force Technology P-Scan system PS4+ - conventional UT & TOFD
Apart from manual UT, the technologies and techniques provided TWI had been extended to include the followings:
- Rapid automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) for zonal inspection of pipeline girth welds
- Long range ultrasonic testing (LRUT) for pipe and pipeline inspection
- Computerised phase array ultrasonic flaw detection, location and sizing
- Ultrasonic time of flight diffraction (TOFD) for critical flaw sizing
- Ultrasonic bond testing
- Ultrasonic modelling
- Capability in estimating the size, orientation, shape and nature of discontinuities
- Quick means of detecting remaining thicknesses of components
- High sensitivity, permitting the detection of extremely small flaws
- Non-hazardous to operations as compared to Radiographic Testing
- Has no effect on equipment human and materials in the vicinity
Benefits
Some of the various advantages of this UT method is;
- Capable of portable or highly automated operation
- Can be practically perform on all type of materials
- High accuracy and reproducibility in flaws detection
- In general only one surface need to be accessible
- Fluid level check in enclosure
- Materials characterisation
Applications
TWI's NDT staff have travelled extensively and have carried out on-site Ultrasonic Testing of various forms as far afield as Alaska, Indonesia, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Mexico. Site teams can be mobilised rapidly and the staff are fully accustomed to site working conditions - offshore, arctic, tropical, and so on.
Ultrasonic Testing is widely used in the;
- Checking the quality of welds in pipes used in fatigue test to simulate resonance in steel catenary risers for the offshore oil industry
- Aerospace industries
- Military defence
- Offshore industries
- Marine industries
- Power-gen industries
- Petrochem industries
- Waste Management
- Automotive industries
- Manufacturing industries
- Transport industries, etc.
Related Links
For more information about TWI's NDT services, please contact us.
