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Focused Dual Angle Beam Design Discussion
Ultrasonic inspection
is frequently used to detect defects and degradation in structures
during manufacturing, maintenance, and in service operation. Traditionally,
the inspection is performed using a single transducer either manually
or with a robotic scanning unit. As regulations become increasingly
demanding regarding scope and frequency of testing critical components,
NDT professionals are challenged by problems including limited access,
complex geometries, and harsh environments-making manual or robotic
scanning difficult if not impossible. A remotely operated flexible
ultrasonic transducer array represents an innovative and cost effective
solution to many of the problems associated with ultrasonic inspection
of complex or hard to access components. The ultrasonic array is
applicable to a wide variety of materials and structures for which
ultrasound is the appropriate nondestructive test (NDT) method.
Employing a vacuum coupling technique, the flexible array provides
the unique ability to conform to complex curved surfaces. Because
flexible ultrasonic arrays are lightweight, portable and easy to
use, they are particularly well suited to field inspection applications.
Promising applications of the ultrasonic array include; composites,
which are formed into complex shapes to satisfy difficult design
criteria, complex piping systems (including T's and elbows), and
pipelines. For example, a flexible ultrasonic array can be permanently
attached (under insulation) to high velocity piping systems to continuously
monitor wall thinning resulting from flow-assisted corrosion. The
device can be used to periodically or continuously monitor the condition
of the pipe in harsh environments, such as radiation areas, without
manual application. Because the array elements are at fixed locations,
the inspection results can always be displayed as easy to interpret
C-scan images. Significant benefits of the flexible array include
ease of use, rapid and automated application and continuous remote
scanning. |
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EXPANDED
APPLICATION