A Comprehensive Guide on Ultrasonic Testing

Ultrasonic Testing (UT)

High-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) are employed in ultrasonic testing (UT), a popular non-destructive testing (NDT) method, to examine and evaluate the structural and material integrity of objects. For non-damaging material defect, flaw, and discontinuity detection, UT is used in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, aerospace, and oil and gas.

Ultrasonic testing (UT) is a method that uses high-frequency sound waves to inspect materials. It involves a pulsed ultrasonic transducer emitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, which are then reflected back to the transducer when they encounter defects or boundaries. The time taken for these waves to return is measured, which helps determine the distance to the defect. UT can identify defects like cracks, voids, inclusions, and material thickness variations.

The equipment used in UT includes a pulse generator, receiver, display and data analysis unit, and calibration blocks. Types of UT include Pulse-Echo testing, Through-Transmission testing, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), and Time-of-Flight Diffraction (TOFD). Pulse-Echo Testing detects internal defects and measures material thickness using a single transducer. Through-Transmission Testing involves two transducers placed on opposite sides of the material, while PAUT uses an array of transducers to manipulate the direction and focus of the sound waves.

Infinita Lab offers ultrasonic testing (UT) inspection services for the identification and localization of discontinuities, material composition analysis, and wall thickness measurements. UT is a mainstay of non-destructive testing (NDT) and involves sending high-frequency sound waves through a sample of material at a steady speed and in a straight line until they hit a surface. By comparing the quantity of energy reflected with the amount of energy delivered, we can learn about the magnitude and location of the barrier we hit.

Ultrasonic inspection data can be displayed in various ways, such as B-scan, A-scan, C-scan, or hybrid/stitched. These images are used for larger specimens or surfaces. Infinita Lab provides UT inspection services for various industries, including aerospace, refining, manufacturing, infrastructure, and power generation. Some popular uses include crack, inclusion, porosity, delamination, corrosion/erosion measuring wall thickness, bond strength evaluation, metal grain size estimation, and air gap calculation in polymers and composites.

Ultrasonic Thickness Testing (UTT) is one of the most common uses of ultrasonic inspection, as it can reveal the presence and severity of corrosion and erosion in pipes, vessels, storage tanks, and other assets. We recommend scheduling regular UTT checks and offering ultrasonic thickness tracking solutions for out-of-the-way pipes and tanks.

Advantages of ultrasonic testing include identifying flaws on the surface and subsurface, requiring only one side to be accessible, providing excellent precision in determining the size and form of discontinuities, requiring little pretreatment of specimens, and using electronic devices that yield results instantly.

Video 01: Introduction to Ultrasonic Testing