Ultrasonic testing methods

Nondestructive testing techniques for welded joints usually include visual, radiographic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, and ultrasonic testing methods. Of interest in this paper is the radiographic testing (RT) technique. 

Defect Evaluation in Diffusion Bonding Interface of Dissimilar Metals Using Ultrasonic Testing Method. 

This study detects the defect of the void and the exfoliation in the solid phase diffusion bonding interface of ductile cast iron and stainless steel with a nickel insert metal using ultrasonic testing method, and examine the influence of mutual interference of the reflectional wave both the defect and the interface. 

Therefore, the ultrasonic testing method in the diffusion joint of the dissimiler materials shall considered the influence of the interference with the reflective wave. 

Evaluation of Bonding Process in Diffusion Bonding Joints of Dissimilar Metals using Ultrasonic Testing Method. 

This study was in real time measured that the reflective echo height of the bonding interface in the solid phase diffused bonding process of carbon steel and titanium using ultrasonic testing method. As a result, the following were made discernment. 

Air pockets or blisters can be detected by using ultrasonic test methods. The correct head and frequency need to be used, as the speed of sound through elastomers is very different than through metals. 

The Barker code pulse compression technique is a special ultrasonic testing method that compresses the ultrasonic pulse through the use of a special class of binary code called the Barker code [49], The pulse compression techique can be used to overcome the limitations of the traditional pulse-echo techique and is useful in testing materials that cause high attenuation. 

The working party agreed that South Western Region SSD would develop the ultrasonic testing method, and Oldbury Reactor... 

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is far more economical, and every assembly can be tested if desired. However, there is no single nondestructive test or technique that will provide the user with a quantitative estimate of bond strength. There are several ultrasonic test methods that provide qualitative values. However, a trained eye can detect a surprising number of faulty joints by close inspection of the adhesive around the bonded area. Table 7.16 lists the characteristics of faulty joints that can be detected visually. The most difficult defects to be found by any method are those related to improper curing and surface treatments. Therefore, great care and control must be given to surface-preparation procedures and shop cleanliness. 

Ultrasonic testing method WIT [4, 5], based on ultrasonic wave attenuation measurements at 12 MHz, was used for in-service examinations of the tubes. It is well known that damage to the steel surface and/or degradation of the steel structure changes the attenuation of the waves. Though the WIT method does not show any relation between the attenuation and the mode of steel damage, it reveals deviations from the standard state of the steel. 

Vibration or modal analysis yield indications of defects in structural elements or parts when excited by suitable loads (37) (also see Sonic and Ultrasonic Test Methods). The literature mainly describes applications to PMC laminates, aiming at detecting critical delaminations (38). A relative comparison for a specific element with time, loading, or exposure may be sufficient to find indications of a defect or of a change in the behavior of the structure. Comparison with finite element calculations is one approach for quantitative evaluation (39). Recent research on monitoring of PMC elements or structures also investigates the use of piezoelectric sensors for detection of delaminations by external excitation (40). 

Sonic and ultrasonic test methods use elastic waves propagating in solid or fluid media and are classified into active and passive methods. The former requires emission of waves into the test object the latter, waves emitted by the material itself... 

The ultrasonic testing of anisotropic austenitic steel welds is a commonly used method in nondestructive testing. Nevertheless, it is often a problem to analyze the received signals in a satisfactory way. Computer simulation of ultrasonics has turned out to be a very helpful tool to gather information and to improve the physical understanding of complicated wave phenomena inside the samples. 

Figure I represents a two-dimensional damage distribution of an impact in a 0/90° CFRP laminate of 3 mm thickness. Unlike in ultrasonic testing, which is usually the standard method for this problem, there is no shadowing effect on the successive layers by delamination echos. With the method of X-ray refraction the exact concentration of debonded fibers can be calculated for each position averaged over the wall thickness. Additionally the refraction allows the selection of the fiber orientation. The presented X-ray refraction topograph detects selectively debonded fibers of the 90° direction.

Due to the outer circumference of the silo, about 25 meters, a non- or rarely destructive testing method was needed for the localization. Because the building was still in use, it was only accessable from the exterior side. We chose the ultrasonic pulse-echo-technique as an appropriate way of doing the testing. 

Because these pipes are key components used for airplanes, their ultrasonic testing quality must be guranteed. Therefore, the author has conducted studies about the flaw detection methods for coarse-grained TC4P extrusion pipes. 

Up to now the Reference Block Method and the DGS-Method are world wide the most important techniques for evaluating defect signals in manual Ultrasonic Testing. Even today, individual national standards refer to either one of these two echo evaluation techniques. However, both reflected echo signals from natural defects are compared with an echo from a known reference reflector at the same distance. The result of the evaluation is either... 

With the reference block method the distance law of a model reflector is established experimentally prior to each ultrasonic test. The reference reflectors, mostly bore holes, are drilled into the reference block at different distances, e.g. ASME block. Prior to the test, the reference reflectors are scanned, and their maximised echo amplitudes are marked on the screen of the flaw detector. Finally all amplitude points are connected by a curve. This Distance Amplitude Curve (DAC) serves as the registration level and exactly shows the amplitude-over-distance behaviour" of the reference reflector for the probe in use. Also the individual characteristics of the material are automatically considered. However, this curve may only be applied for defect evaluation, in case the reference block and the test object are made of the same material and have undergone the same heat treatment. As with the DGS-Method, the value of any defect evaluation does not consider the shape and orientation of the defect. The reference block method is safe and easy to apply, and the operator need not to have a deep understanding about the theory of distance laws. 

We are confident that any user of this combined evaluation technique, as well as the development of future test standards for manual ultrasonic testing will benefit from this result, because it allows a greater flexibility in the applicable method without loosing reliability. Often an expensive production of a reference block can be avoided and therefore testing costs are reduced. Since all calculations are performed by a PC, the operator can fully concentrate on his most important duty scanning the workpiece and observing the A-scan. Additional time will be saved for the test documentation, since all testing results are stored in the instrument s memory (the PC s hard drive) with full link to the Software World (Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.). 

Application of magnetic fluids in ultrasonic non-destructive testing [1-3] opens the real perspectives for automation of the testing methods, based on the surface waves. This report presents the results of investigations aimed at the creation of the transducer of the surface waves for the automated control. The basic attention is drawn to the analysis of the position of the front meniscus of the contact liquid when the surface waves excite through the slot gap. 

C. Kleesattel, "The Ultrasonic Contact Impedance Testing Method," The ECHO, Vol. 27, Krautkramer GmbH. 

Ultrasonics. The most widely used nondestmctive test method for explosion-welded composites is ultrasonic inspection. Pulse-echo procedures (ASTM A435) are appHcable for inspection of explosion-welded composites used in pressure appHcations. 

For pipelines in service in chemical plants, it is not usually convenient to place a radiation source inside the pipe and position it to irradiate each welded joint. The radioisotope source container maybe placed on the outer surface of the pipe. The radiation beams then pass through two pipe wall thicknesses to expose films placed diametrically opposite the radiation source, also on the outside of the pipe wall. Other methods, such as magnetic particle inspection of welds in steel pipe, or ultrasonic inspection of welds in pipes of all materials, supplement x-rays in many critical appHcations. The ultrasonic tests can often detect the thin, laminar discontinuities parallel to the pipe surface or the incomplete fusion discontinuities along the weld... 

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