An Introduction To Ultrasonic Inspection

By Rena Hudson


Ultra sonic testing utilizes high frequency energy of sound to take measurements and facilitate examinations. It can be used for flaw evaluation or detection, material characterization, dimensional measurements, and many more. Ultrasonic inspection can be an incredibly fast, precise and economical way of identifying and plotting discontinuities such as laminations and inclusions in a wide variety of finished and wrought metals. It can also be applied in plated and composite items.

Ultrasonic testing is utilized in the examination of high speed rotating engine parts together with groove welds involving full penetration. When one needs to find out the thickness of certain materials, this method can also be applied. The process uses multifaceted electronic equipment connected to a single or multiple transducers.

The transducers used can generate and detect sound waves of high frequency that are transmitted through the specimen material. Once the transmission takes place, the waves bounce back to reveal any defects or calculate the material thickness. This method is mostly used in instances where it is not possible to do radiographic testing.

A typical ultra sonic testing system is made up of a number of operational units like the transducer, receiver or pulsar, and the display screens. A receiver or pulsar is an electronic appliance capable of producing electrical pulses of high voltage. The transducer, driven by the receiver, generates the high frequency ultrasonic energy. This sound energy is then introduced into the test material, propagating through it in form of waves.

The role of the transducer is to produce sound waves and to receive them. In normal cases, it transmits the waves as a straight or angle beam. A couplant is then applied to the material under test in order to transmit the waves to the material surface. It also ensures accuracy by preventing wave loss. The signal travel time can be directly related to the distance traveled. Information relating to the measurements needed for the inspection to be successful can in some instances be gotten from the signal.

Ultrasonic testing is quite a versatile and useful Non-Destructive inspection way that comes with several merits. Notable advantages includes being able to figure out defects that convection pressure test using water cannot figure, such as undershooting in the material wall thickness.

More merits are seen in that every flaw that is found out is reproducible. In addition, no damage is dome to the material being tested, and it can be tested in an operative condition.This significantly decreases the workload. The method also takes place quickly hence no time is wasted, and is quite economical and accurate.

This method can be applied in other applications apart from flaw detection, for instance thickness measurement. Detailed images can be seen with it in case automated systems are applied.

This overview provides a simplified introduction to ultrasonic inspection as a method for NDT. However, due to the complex process that is actually involved, to do an inspection with the assistance of ultra sonics, one has to learn it in details.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment