Non Destructive Testing

Submitted By : To :
Jaspreet Singh (1607275) ER. Gurmeet Kaur
Harwinder Singh (1607266)
Jaswinder Singh (1607278)
Ultrasonic Testing
 Introduction
• This module presents an introduction to the NDT method
of ultrasonic testing.
• Ultrasonic testing uses high frequency sound energy to
conduct examinations and make measurements.
• Ultrasonic examinations can be conducted on a wide
variety of material forms including castings, forgings, welds,
and composites.
• A considerable amount of information about the part being
examined can be collected, such as the presence of
discontinuities, part or coating thickness; and acoustical
properties can often be correlated to certain properties of
the material.
 Basic Principles of Sound
• Sound is produced by a vibrating body and travels in the form
of a wave.
• Sound waves travel through materials by vibrating the
particles that make up the material.
• The pitch of the sound
is determined by the
frequency of the wave
(vibrations or cycles
completed in a certain
period of time).
• Ultrasound is sound
with a pitch too high
to be detected by the
human ear.
 Basic Principles of Sound (cont.)
• Ultrasonic waves are very similar to light waves
in that they can be reflected, refracted, and
focused.
• Reflection and refraction occurs when sound
waves interact with interfaces of differing
acoustic properties.
• In solid materials, the vibrational energy can be
split into different wave modes when the wave
encounters an interface at an angle other than
90 degrees.
• Ultrasonic reflections from the presence of
discontinuities or geometric features enables
detection and location.
• The velocity of sound in a given material is
constant and can only be altered by a change in
the mode of energy.
 Ultrasound Generation
Ultrasound is generated with a transducer.
A piezoelectric element
in the transducer
converts electrical
energy into mechanical
vibrations (sound), and
vice versa.

The transducer is
capable of both
transmitting and
receiving sound
energy.
 Principles of Ultrasonic Inspection

• Ultrasonic waves are introduced into a material where they

travel in a straight line and at a constant speed until they
encounter a surface.
• At surface interfaces some of the wave energy is reflected
and some is transmitted.
• The amount of reflected or transmitted energy can be
detected and provides information about the size of the
reflector.
• The travel time of the sound can be measured and this
provides information on the distance that the sound has
traveled.
 Test Techniques
• Ultrasonic testing is a very versatile inspection method, and
inspections can be accomplished in a number of different ways.
• Ultrasonic inspection techniques are commonly divided into
three primary classifications.
– Pulse-echo and Through Transmission
(Relates to whether reflected or transmitted energy is used)
– Normal Beam and Angle Beam
(Relates to the angle that the sound energy enters the test article)
– Contact and Immersion
(Relates to the method of coupling the transducer to the test article)

Each of these techniques will be discussed briefly

in the following slides.
 Test Techniques - Pulse-Echo
• In pulse-echo testing, a transducer sends out a pulse of energy
and the same or a second transducer listens for reflected energy
(an echo).
• Reflections occur due to the presence of discontinuities and the
surfaces of the test article.
f
• The amount of reflected sound energy is displayed versus time,
which provides the inspector information about the size and the
location of features that reflect the sound.

initial
pulse
back surface
echo

crack
echo
crack
plate
0 2 4 6 8 10
UT Instrument Screen
Test Techniques – Through-Transmission
• Two transducers located on 11
opposing sides of the test
specimen are used. One T R

transducer acts as a transmitter,

the other as a receiver.
• Discontinuities in the sound path T R

will result in a partial or total loss 2

of sound being transmitted and
be indicated by a decrease in the
received signal amplitude.
• Through transmission is useful in
11

detecting discontinuities that are

not good reflectors, and when 2
signal strength is weak. It does
not provide depth information.
0 2 4 6 8 10
Test Techniques – Normal and Angle Beam
• In normal beam testing, the sound
beam is introduced into the test
article at 90 degree to the surface.
• In angle beam testing, the sound
beam is introduced into the test
article at some angle other than
90.
• The choice between normal and
angle beam inspection usually
depends on two considerations:
- The orientation of the feature of
interest – the sound should be
directed to produce the largest
reflection from the feature.
- Obstructions on the surface of the
part that must be worked around.
Test Techniques – Contact Vs Immersion
• To get useful levels of sound energy into a material, the air
between the transducer and the test article must be removed.
This is referred to as coupling.
• In contact testing (shown on the previous slides) a couplant
such as water, oil or a gel is applied between the transducer
and the part.
• In immersion testing, the part and the transducer are place in a
water bath. This arrangement allows better movement of the
transducer while maintaining consistent coupling.
• With immersion testing, an echo from the front surface of the
part is seen in the signal but otherwise signal interpretation is
the same for the two techniques.
1 2
IP 1 IP 2 IP = Initial Pulse
FWE FWE FWE = Front Wall
Echo
BWE BWE DE = Defect Echo
DE BWE = Back Wall
Echo

Defect 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
 Inspection Applications

Some of the applications for which ultrasonic testing may be

employed include:
• Flaw detection (cracks, inclusions, porosity, etc.)
• Erosion & corrosion thickness gauging
• Assessment of bond integrity in adhesively
joined and brazed components
• Estimation of void content in composites and
plastics
• Measurement of case hardening depth in steels
• Estimation of grain size in metals
On the following slides are examples of some
common applications of ultrasonic inspection.
 Thickness Gauging
• Ultrasonic thickness gauging is • Applications
routinely utilized in the include piping
petrochemical and utility systems, storage
industries to determine various and containment
degrees of corrosion/erosion. facilities, and
pressure vessels.
 Flaw Detection - Delaminations
Contact, pulse-echo inspection for delaminations
on 36” rolled beam.

Signal showing multiple back

surface echoes in an unflawed area.

Additional echoes indicate

delaminations in the member.
 Flaw Detection in Welds
• One of the most widely used
methods of inspecting
weldments is ultrasonic
inspection.
• Full penetration groove
welds lend themselves
readily to angle beam shear
wave examination.
 Equipment

Equipment for ultrasonic testing is very

diversified. Proper selection is important to
insure accurate inspection data as desired for
specific applications.
In general, there are three basic components
that comprise an ultrasonic test system:
- Instrumentation
- Transducers
- Calibration Standards
 Transducers
• Transducers are manufactured in a variety of
forms, shapes and sizes for varying applications.
• Transducers are categorized in a number of ways
which include:
- Contact or immersion
- Single or dual element
- Normal or angle beam
• In selecting a transducer
for a given application, it
is important to choose the
desired frequency,
bandwidth, size, and in some cases focusing
which optimizes the inspection capabilities.
 Contact Transducers
Contact transducers are
designed to withstand
rigorous use, and usually
have a wear plate on the
bottom surface to protect the
piezoelectric element from
contact with the surface of
the test article.
Many incorporate ergonomic
designs for ease of grip while
scanning along the surface.
 Instrumentation
• Ultrasonic equipment is usually purchased to satisfy
specific inspection needs, some users may purchase
general purpose equipment to fulfill a number of
inspection applications.
• Test equipment can be classified in a number of different
ways, this may include portable or stationary, contact or
immersion, manual or automated.
• Further classification of instruments commonly divides
them into four general categories: D-meters, Flaw
detectors, Industrial and special application.
 Calibration Standards

Calibration is a operation of configuring the ultrasonic test

equipment to known values. This provides the inspector
with a means of comparing test signals to known
measurements.
Calibration standards come in a wide variety of material
types, and configurations due to the diversity of inspection
applications.
Calibration standards are typically manufactured from
materials of the same acoustic properties as those of the test
articles.
The following slides provide examples of specific types of
standards.
 Advantage of Ultrasonic Testing

• Sensitive to both surface and subsurface discontinuities.

• Depth of penetration for flaw detection or measurement is
superior to other methods.
• Only single-sided access is needed when pulse-echo technique is
used.
• High accuracy in determining reflector position and estimating
size and shape.
• Minimal part preparation required.
• Electronic equipment provides instantaneous results.
• Detailed images can be produced with automated systems.
• Has other uses such as thickness measurements, in addition to
flaw detection.
 Limitations of Ultrasonic Testing

• Surface must be accessible to transmit ultrasound.

• Skill and training is more extensive than with some other methods.
• Normally requires a coupling medium to promote transfer of sound
energy into test specimen.
• Materials that are rough, irregular in shape, very small,
exceptionally thin or not homogeneous are difficult to inspect.
• Cast iron and other coarse grained materials are difficult to inspect
due to low sound transmission and high signal noise.
• Linear defects oriented parallel to the sound beam may go
undetected.
• Reference standards are required for both equipment calibration,
and characterization of flaws.