Overview of Ultrasonic Testing (UT)
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a group of nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques that use short, high-frequency ultrasonic waves to identify flaws in a material. They generally work by emitting waves into a material. By measuring these waves, the properties of the material and internal flaws can be identified. Most UT devices consist of many separate units. These can include pulsers and receivers, transducers, and display monitors. The components included depend on the type of UT that the inspector is performing.
Types of Ultrasonic Testing
There are several different types of ultrasonic testing, including:
Automated Ultrasonic Backscatter Technique
Advanced Ultrasonic Backscatter Technique (AUBT) is a UT technique developed for detecting damage from High-Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA). The technique is for use in pressure vessels and piping. The technique makes use of high frequency, broadband UT probes and a digital oscilloscope. These allow it to provide both an A-Scan display and frequency analysis.
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing
Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is a UT technique that utilizes a set of UT probes made up of numerous (anywhere from 16 to over 250) small elements. Each of the elements in a PAUT system is able to pulse individually. This is done with computer calculated timing, through a process known as phasing. This allows the system to steer focused beam through various angles and focal distances.
Long Range Ultrasonic Testing
Long Range Ultrasonic Testing (LRUT) is a UT method developed to allow for testing large volumes of material from a single test point. This method works by fixing transducer rings uniformly around a pipe. These rings then generate a series of low frequency guided waves. The waves can then propagate symmetrically along the pipe axis. This provides complete coverage of the pipe wall.
Internal Rotating Inspection Systems
An Internal Rotating Inspection System (IRIS) is an ultrasonic technique used to detect corrosion in piping and tubing. using an internally inserted probe that generates sound waves. The system works by inserting a probe into a flooded pipe. The probe them move through the pipe, scanning as it goes.
Time of Flight Diffraction
Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) is a method used to look for flaws in welds. It uses the time of flight of an ultrasonic pulse to find the location of a reflector. To find the TOF, the method uses a pair of ultrasonic transducers. The transmitter emits low frequency waves that propagate at an angle. They only diffract back to the receiver if they hit a defect.
Dry-Coupled Ultrasonic Testing
Dry-Coupled Ultrasonic Testing (DCUT) is an alternative, low-cost method that does not require a liquid couplant to inspect metallic and nonmetallic material. Additionally, DCUT transducers are capable of withstanding high voltages. DCUT is a versatile method that can be performed using flexible, contact, wheel, or remote transducers.
- Flexible transducers can be applied on an external or internal surface of a component to detect flaws.
- Contact transducers are also used to detect flaws as well as thickness measurements.
- Wheel transducers allow inspectors to inspect long piping systems in a short amount of time.
- Remote transducers are advantageous because they can take thickness measurements at non-conventional angles (i.e., at angles that are not 90° to the surface). This eliminates the need to build supports or remove components in order to perform inspection.
Advantages and Disadvantages
In general, UT has several advantages and disadvantages. It’s useful because it can scan for flaws both on and underneath the surface. It is also useful for it's incredible accuracy. On the other hand, not all materials are receptive to ultrasonic testing. It also has the disadvantage that it requires a good deal of skill and training to perform.
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Related Topics
Acoustic Emission Testing (AET) Advanced Ultrasonic Backscatter Technique (AUBT) Eddy Current Array (ECA) Electro Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMAT) Guided Wave Ultrasonics (GWUT) Infrared Inspection Liquid Penetrant Examination (LPE) Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) Magnetic Particle Testing (MPT) Meandering Winding Magnetometer Array (MWMA) Pulsed Eddy Current (PEC) Radiography-
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November/December 2014 Inspectioneering JournalBy Kelsey Hevner at Quest Integrity Group
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May/June 2014 Inspectioneering JournalBy Jeremiah Wooten at Inspectioneering, LLC.
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July/August 2005 Inspectioneering JournalBy Julian Speck at TWI Ltd., and Bryan Kenzie at TWI
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September/October 2004 Inspectioneering JournalBy Julian Speck at TWI Ltd., and Peter Mudge at Pi Ltd.
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September/October 2004 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
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Partner Content
InVista is a lightweight, hand-held ultrasonic in-line inspection tool (intelligent pig) capable of detecting pipeline wall loss and corrosion in unpiggable or difficult-to-inspect pipelines. The pipeline geometry inspection data captured by the InVista tool is exceptionally powerful when combined with the LifeQuest™ Pipeline fitness-for-service capabilities, providing an integrated solution set for the pipeline industry.
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November/December 2000 Inspectioneering JournalBy C.P. Hsiao
The recently released API RP-579 Fitness-for-Service Recommended Practice highlights the need for a measurable degree of reliability in NDE results. In fact, the industry has been asking for a process to assure a minimum level of inspection quality for some time.
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September/October 2000 Inspectioneering JournalBy T.C. Ridgeway & Staff at TCRI
In part 1 of this article we covered the importance of quality assurance of UT data, that is, understanding for each particular application, the accuracy required of the UT data, and new ways/graphical program to analyze and show the interrelationships of data by location for trending. Part 1 article areas then included: -UT Data Reporting and Evaluation -Imaging UT Data Evaluating the Quality of Static UT Data -Visual Trending of UT data -Mathematical Trending of UT Data Now, in Part 2, we will cover data quality issue statistics and possible sources of poor quality UT data.
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July/August 2000 Inspectioneering JournalBy T.C. Ridgeway & Staff at TCRI
The American Paper Institute Recovery Boiler Reference Manual Volume 1, October 1979, indicates that the two main goals of conducting ultrasonic thickness (UT) inspections are to determine (1) the current tube wall thickness and (2) the rate of tube wall metal wastage. The analysis of tens of thousands of UT readings from black liquor recovery boilers is an intimidating and time-consuming task. Problem areas in the boiler are easily identified and many engineering hours of labor are saved. The graphical prensentation permits the quality (accuracy and consistency) of the UT data to be carefully examined.
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March/April 2000 Inspectioneering JournalBy Paul Marks at NDT Training and Placement Center
Do You Know All You Need To Know About The People Who Perform Your NDT? Could the following scenario be played out in your plant, on your equipment, on your watch? The year is 1968. The time is 3 PM on Friday. Two fairly young men are traveling east-bound on I-10 from Houston, Texas to "Off-Shore", Louisiana. The trip will take about 8 hours, six by car and two by boat. The new hire's supervisor / trainer, hands him a thin booklet that provides a brief description of the nondestructive testing method known as ultrasonics. The last few pages of the book contain glossary terms relating to the test method. The supervisor tells the trainee that he should study the material, especially the glossary terms, while they make the trip to "Off-Shore".
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May/June 1999 Inspectioneering JournalBy Richard L. Lopushanksy at Southwest Research Institute
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May/June 1999 Inspectioneering JournalBy Paul K. Davidson at WIS, Inc.
EMATs (Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers) have been used for over six years for field service inspection of in-service piping. Recent advances in technology have allowed us to inspect new types of on-stream piping.
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Inspection data analysis tools, like risk-based inspection, help us to focus on quantitative reliability targets. When considering thinning mechanisms, there is a certain probability that a piece of equipment will reach retirement thickness before or at the next inspection or the next turnaround. Statistical techniques can help us understand and control the probability of early retirement, allowing us to make better remaining life and re-inspection decisions.
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March/April 1999 Inspectioneering Journal
The API Subcommittee on Inspection (SCI) has determined to initiate a program covering the qualification of ultrasonic (UT) technicians conducting inspections.
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January/February 1999 Inspectioneering JournalBy Mike Sparago at CorrSolutions
Ultrasonic thickness monitoring programs represent one of the most intensive inspection activities in refining and petrochemical facilities. Despite numerous improvements in ultrasonic testing equipment and inspection techniques, however, there has been little advancement in analyzing this valuable data since the early 1980's.
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July/August 1998 Inspectioneering Journal
The debate about advantages and drawbacks of the application of the TOFD (time of flight diffraction) approach for ultrasonic weld inspection should not forget the original reasons for its introduction in the 1960s. The major advantage at that time had been the better crack detection in comparison to x-ray techniques, especially in view of an increased use of steels and welding technologies with a the presence of diverse cracking phenomena (e.g. cold cracking, transverse cracks etc.).
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May/June 1998 Inspectioneering JournalBy Mike Badeen at Phillips 66 Co.
New inspection technology, when added to the proven practice of using tell tale holes (TTHs), proves effective in reducing significant releases and or catastrophic events that are related to internal corrosion / erosion of process piping. In fact, one facility's experience indicates that this practice, when used in conjunction with current and newly advanced technology such as automated ultrasonic (AUT) and profile radiograph (PRT), is more effective than using only new technology.
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March/April 1998 Inspectioneering JournalBy Richard D. Roberts at Quest Integrity Group, and Tim Cowling
Furnace tubes in the petrochemical and refining industries lengths' can exceed 2,000 ft., often with multiple serpentine bends. This can make them extremely difficult to inspect using conventional NDE methods. The following inspection tool (FTIS) employs the combined capabilities of high-speed laser and advanced ultrasonic wall thickness measurements and is propelled through the piping via a column of clean water which provides a path for the laser beam, and the coupling for the ultrasonic signals.
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March/April 1997 Inspectioneering JournalBy John Reynolds at Intertek
This is the second in a series of articles on piping inspection. In the last article, I enumerated four inspection issues that I believe contribute to inadequate piping mechanical integrity in the hydrocarbon process industry.
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November/December 1995 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal, and Dr. W. David Wang at Shell Oil Products Company
Nelson Curve changes in the late 1980's provided cause for Shell Oil Company to look at more reliable NDE non-destructive evaluation methods for assessment of materials/equipment in high temperature hydrogen service. The primary change motivating Shell was the lowering of the C-0.5 Mo steel Nelson Curve to the carbon steel level.
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September/October 1995 Inspectioneering JournalBy Susan W. Borenstein at Structural Integrity Associates, Inc., and George J. Licina at Structural Integrity Associates, Inc.
Low-energy piping system failures in power-generating facilities are often the result of fouling and corrosion. These degradation mechanisms can affect the capacity of piping for fluid-carrying, the heat transfer rates of heat exchangers, and the structural integrity of piping systems. Steels are not immune to pitting, underdeposit corrosion, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Once advanced inspection technique, using an enhanced ultrasonic inspection system coupled with special imaging software, has demonstrated the capability to accurately image and size closed tunneling pits that often form in austenitic stainless steel weldments due to MIC.
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July/August 1995 Inspectioneering JournalBy Greg Alvarado at Inspectioneering Journal
With miles of piping and tons of equipment to consider for on-stream inspection or monitoring you probably have:
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July/August 1995 Inspectioneering JournalBy Dr. John Bowker at Metals Technology Laboratories, CANMET, and Russell Orr at Metals Technologies Laboratories, CANMET
Petrochemical and energy utility industries require a methodology which will allow them and the governing regulatory authorities to make technical and financially sound decisions for the repair or replacement of pressure vessels which suffer damage during service.
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May/June 1995 Inspectioneering JournalBy Bob Browne at ERA Technology
For reason of economy, the hot reheat pipework in many US power plants is fabricated from seam-welded low chrome-moly carbon steel spools. Unlike girth butt welds, where the critical weldment microstructures can off-load stress to the stronger parent material, seam welds are subject to the full pressure hoop stress. A number of failures have occurred, some of which have been evidenced by fast fracture over extended lengths of the seam weld with a massive and violent steam release.
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Utilities' High Energy Piping Systems - Utility Industry's Application of Accoustic Emission (AE) Yields Measurable Improvement in Inspection Program Cost and Overall System IntergrityMarch/April 1995 Inspectioneering JournalBy Charles L. Foster at Pacific Gas & Electric
High energy piping (HEP) systems, main steam lines and hot reheat lines (typically low chrome molydbdenum steels), are susceptible to creep damage. Such damage can lead to leaks, and in extreme cases, catastrophic failure.
Pro-Surve Technical with subsidiaries ProSource Radiography and ProForce Industrial are an integrated inspection, NDT, reliability engineering, Data management and project controls service provider assisting clients across CapEx/OpEx budgeted projects processes. We concentrate on solutions provided by the integration of engineering and inspection.
Pro-Surve Technical with subsidiaries ProSource Radiography and ProForce Industrial are an integrated inspection, NDT, reliability engineering, Data management and project controls service provider assisting clients across CapEx/OpEx budgeted projects processes. We concentrate on solutions provided by the integration of engineering and inspection.
Olympus provides an industry-leading portfolio of remote visual inspection, industrial microscopy, ultrasound, phased array, eddy current, phased array, and optical metrology solutions including: ultrasonic flaw detectors and thickness gages, videoscopes, microscopes, advanced NDT systems, and X-ray fluorescence analyzers.
Olympus provides an industry-leading portfolio of remote visual inspection, industrial microscopy, ultrasound, phased array, eddy current, phased array, and optical metrology solutions including: ultrasonic flaw detectors and thickness gages, videoscopes, microscopes, advanced NDT systems, and X-ray fluorescence analyzers.
PK Technology is a full-service inspection contractor, as well as, an in-house software development company specializing in the Oil and Gas industry. PK Technology is the creator of intelliSPEC, the worlds first Digital Data Management System (DDMS) which is a robust and intelligent solution designed to digitize, analyze and realize all vital data.
PK Technology is a full-service inspection contractor, as well as, an in-house software development company specializing in the Oil and Gas industry. PK Technology is the creator of intelliSPEC, the worlds first Digital Data Management System (DDMS) which is a robust and intelligent solution designed to digitize, analyze and realize all vital data.
Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies (PinnacleART) is a leader in building, implementing and maintaining comprehensive reliability programs for facilities in the oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, wastewater and electric power industries, to name a few. Our team consists of talented experts and engineers, who offer the highest degree of service and uncompromised reliability for every one of our projects. PinnacleART’s specialists are dedicated to delivering optimal outcomes for our clients, which results in reducing risk, ensuring compliance, optimizing costs and improving safety.
Pinnacle Advanced Reliability Technologies (PinnacleART) is a leader in building, implementing and maintaining comprehensive reliability programs for facilities in the oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharmaceutical, wastewater and electric power industries, to name a few. Our team consists of talented experts and engineers, who offer the highest degree of service and uncompromised reliability for every one of our projects. PinnacleART’s specialists are dedicated to delivering optimal outcomes for our clients, which results in reducing risk, ensuring compliance, optimizing costs and improving safety.
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Asset Intelligence Report
This Asset Intelligence Report on Conventional NDE provides an introduction to Conventional NDE and its applications across industries and equipment lifecycles.
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Press ReleaseQuest Integrity, July 11, 2013
Quest Integrity Group introduces a new animation focused on the inspection and assessment of buried or inaccessible piping in nuclear facilities utilizing HYDRA™, an ultrasonic-based intelligent pigging technology.
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