The following pages present information on the science involved in ultrasonic inspection, the equipment that is commonly used, some of the measurement techniques used, as well as other information. High penetration power, allowing for flaw detection deep within a part, High sensitivity, allowing for the detection of very small flaws, Can be used to test when only one side of an object is accessible, Greater accuracy, when compared to other non-destructive testing methods, for determining depth of internal flaws and the thickness of parts with parallel surfaces, Able to estimate size, shape, orientation and nature of defects, Able to estimate alloy structures of components with differing acoustic properties, Non-hazardous to nearby personnel, equipment or materials, Highly automated and portable operations possible, Immediate results can be obtained, allowing for immediate decisions to be made, Requires experienced technicians for inspection and for data interpretation, False positive results, also known as spurious signals, may result from tolerable anomalies as well as the component geometry itself, Objects that are rough, irregularly shaped, very small or thin, or not homogeneous are difficult to inspect, Loose scale or paint will need to be removed before testing can commence, although clean, properly bonded paint can be left in place, Couplants required for tests that use conventional UT, UT may have reduced sensitivity for volumetric flaws, particularly metal inclusions, than radiographic testing. National Structural Integrity Research Centre, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL, UK, electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Level I course includes a basic introduction to the theory and principles of ultrasound including frequency, velocity, and wavelength. Materials that are rough, irregular in shape, very small, exceptionally thin or not homogeneous are difficult to inspect. Ultrasonic Testing (UT) uses high frequency sound energy to conduct examinations and make measurements. Thus, any loose debris of this sort should be cleaned from the specimen with a wire brush or file before measurements are attempted. Attenuation. Ultrasonic testing is used in a wide range of industries due to its suitability for many different materials. Ultrasonic tests are therefore often used for weld inspections. From the very first examinations, using ultrasonic oscillations for detection of flaws in different materials, it has become a classical test … Ultrasonic testing can also be split into two main types: contact or immersion testing. Probe or Transducer: converts electric energy into ultrasound energy and vice versa utilizing a phenomenon known as the piezoelectric … We can provide a full range of testing services and expertise, including in methods such as phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT), laser ultrasonic testing and manual ultrasonic testing. UT is ideally used for inspection of dense, crystalline structures such as metals. This couplant is required to efficiently transmit the sound energy from the transducer into the part, however This couplant is not required when performing tests with non-contact techniques such as electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) or by laser excitation. Ultrasonic testing (UT) is a family of non-destructive testing techniques based on the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the object or material tested. Detailed images can be produced with automated systems. It is used in a wide range of industries including aerospace, automotive, construction, medical, metallurgy, and manufacturing. This can include testing of welds to determine if there are any discontinuities present. Driven by the pulser, the transducer generates high frequency ultrasonic energy. This method … Firestone (1940) and Simons (1945) developed pulsed ultrasonic testing using a pulse-echo technique. Introduction • This module presents an introduction to the NDT method of ultrasonic testing. A pulser/receiver is an electronic device that can produce high voltage electrical pulses. TWI provides a number of ultrasonic testing services to our Industrial Members as well as a range of non-destructive testing training courses for those wishing to learn about the techniques involved. This method uses echo signals at an interface, such as the back of the object or an imperfection, to reflect the waves back to the probe. UT is also capable of detecting finer defects and planar flaws which may not be assessed as readily with radiographic testing. Taken from our most recent eBook entitled ‘ Ultrasonic Thickness Gauges in Potentially Explosive Environments’, we take a look at the basics of ultrasonic measurement.. An ultrasonic device operates … Electronic equipment provides instantaneous results. Introduction Basic Principles History Present State Future Direction, Physics of Ultrasound Wave Propagation Modes of Sound Waves Properties of Plane Waves Wavelength/Flaw Detection Elastic Properties of Solids Attenuation Acoustic Impedance Reflection/Transmission Refraction & Snell's Law Mode Conversion Signal-to-noise Ratio Wave Interference, Equipment & Transducers Piezoelectric Transducers Characteristics of PT Radiated Fields Transducer Beam Spread Transducer Types Transducer Testing I Transducer Testing II Transducer Modeling Couplant EMATs Pulser-Receivers Tone Burst Generators Function Generators Impedance Matching Data Presentation Error Analysis, Measurement Techniques Normal Beam Inspection Angle Beams I Angle Beams II Crack Tip Diffraction Automated Scanning Velocity Measurements Measuring Attenuation Spread Spectrum Signal Processing Flaw Reconstruction, Calibration Methods Calibration Methods DAC Curves Curvature Correction Thompson-Gray Model UTSIM Grain Noise Modeling References/Standards, Selected Applications Rail Inspection Weldments, Reference Material UT Material Properties References. 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