Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing
Restrictions on the use of industrial radiography has increased in recent times due to health hazards, hence the need for alternative weld inspection methods and techniques such as Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) and Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) have become indispensable. NDE has become more relevant in recent times due to its ability to assess the flaws accurately. Along with sizing of flaw, characterization of flaw is also very important. Hence, the combination of TOFD and phased array techniques have become a need.
When Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) are judiciously applied together, the overall quality of weld inspection improves significantly compared to conventional radiography. The integrity of weld joints evaluated using PAUT and TOFD is generally higher than those inspected through radiographic testing. Although the combined cost of PAUT and TOFD may initially appear higher than traditional radiography, these advanced ultrasonic techniques offer several advantages. They eliminate radiation hazards, allowing other activities to continue nearby without interruption, thereby saving both time and associated costs in production or fabrication. Furthermore, the high-speed scanning capability of PAUT and TOFD reduces overall inspection time and avoids delays typically associated with radiographic testing.
