

Phased Array Ultrasonics (PAUT)
Phased array is widely used for nondestructive testing (NDT) in several industrial sectors, such as... View more
Phased array instruments and ability to define anisotropic velocity?
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Phased array instruments and ability to define anisotropic velocity?
Does anyone know of any PAUT equipment that allows you to define velocity as a function of angle? I believe that Olympus PipeWIZARD V4 has this capability, but beyond that I’m not aware of any regular sort of, “field portable” PAUT set that permits you define velocity as a function of angle (a “velocity vector”, if you will).
Last year I came across this problem first hand while inspecting welds on TMCP pipeline steel. Ed Ginzel and I got a sample, and figured out a very simple way to calibrate for it using two phased array probes in pitch-catch, placed on the pipe material. It was much more common than we thought. I fear they may be many PAUT crews out there looking at “melting S-scans”, and plotting defects incorrectly. This is something that we hope (one day ) to be integrated into field portable PAUT equipment (hint hint my PAUT OEMs!).