Abstract: A method for processing ultrasonic response signals collected from a plurality of measurement locations along a weld to determine the presence of a defect in the weld may include filtering an ultrasonic response signal from each of the measurement locations to produce a filtered response signal for each of the measurement locations. Thereafter, an ultrasonic energy for each of the measurement locations is calculated with the corresponding filtered response signal. The ultrasonic energy for each measurement location is then compared to the ultrasonic energy of adjacent measurement locations to identify potential defect locations. When the ultrasonic energy of a measurement location is less than the ultrasonic energy of the adjacent measurement locations, the measurement location is a potential defect location. The presence of a defect in the weld is then determined by analyzing fluctuations in the ultrasonic energy at measurement locations neighboring the potential defect locations.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection method and ultrasonic inspection apparatus is capable of inspecting a weld line and of detecting a circumferential crack and an axial crack that are present in the weld line. An ultrasonic probe is placed on the surface of a structure and transmits an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave is transmitted at an angle in an X?-Z plane. The direction of a normal to the surface is defined as an X axis. The direction in which the weld line extends is defined as a Y axis. The direction perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis is defined as a Z axis. An axis obtained by rotating the X axis around the Z axis is defined as an X? axis. A control mechanism performs signal processing of signals reflected from the defect or defects to detect the defect or defects and to measure the length of the defect or defects.

Abstract: The system provides first and second sensor assemblies and processor that work in cooperation to detect flaws in welded tubulars. The first sensor detects and provides an indication of the weld line to the processor, which analyzes the indication and determines the approximate location of the weld line along the tubular. The processor then transmits a signal to the second sensor assembly, which is preferably mounted on an automatic positioning apparatus. In response to the signal, the automatic positioning apparatus adjusts and readjusts the position of the second sensor assembly into proximity with the weld line to search for flaws in the tubular.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe apparatus for detecting flaws in a tubular includes a probe house. The probe house has an axial axis, a central cavity lying along the axial axis, and a bottom face adapted for placement on the tubular. The bottom face of the probe house has an opening in the middle. A probe support is disposed within the central cavity and rotatable about the axial axis of the probe house. An ultrasonic probe is mounted on the probe support and has a scanning face exposed to the opening of the bottom face of the probe house. The scanning face is tiltable relative to a selected plane of the tubular by rotation of the probe support about the axial axis of the probe house.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe apparatus for detecting flaws in a tubular includes a probe housing. The probe housing has an axial axis, a central cavity lying along the axial axis, and a bottom face adapted for placement on the tubular. The bottom face of the probe housing has an opening in the middle. A probe support is disposed within the central cavity and rotatable about the axial axis of the probe housing. An ultrasonic probe is mounted on the probe support and has a scanning face exposed to the opening of the bottom face of the probe housing, and may be coupled to the pipe with a liquid acoustic couplant medium.

Abstract: Method for non-destructive inspection of defects in a surface of a pipeline or storage tank. The method includes carrying out a first way of non-destructive inspection for determining a first defect pattern and carrying out a second way of non-destructive inspection for determining a second defect pattern. The method includes identifying at least one defect of the first defect pattern and at least one defect of the second defect pattern which represent one and the same defect, and comparing the dimensions and optionally also the positions of the identified defects so as to obtain a difference in dimensions and optionally also in the positions. The method also includes obtaining a plurality of such differences and obtaining at least one parameter representing said differences, and correcting the dimensions and optionally also the positions of defects of the first defect pattern by using the at least one parameter.

Abstract: A method for determining the type of a defect in a weld may include determining a defect location and a corresponding defect signal by analyzing ultrasonic response signals collected from a plurality of measurement locations along the weld. The defect signal and the plurality of defect proximity signals corresponding to ultrasonic response signals from measurement locations on each side of the defect location may then be input into a trained artificial neural network. The trained artificial neural network may be operable to identify the type of the defect located at the defect location based on the defect signal and the plurality of defect proximity signals and output the type of the defect located at the defect location. The trained artificial neural network may also be operable to determine a defect severity classification based on the defect signal and the plurality of defect proximity signals and output the severity classification.

Abstract: A method for determining the composition of fluids flowing through pipes from noninvasive measurements of acoustic properties of the fluid is described. The method includes exciting a first transducer located on the external surface of the pipe through which the fluid under investigation is flowing, to generate an ultrasound chirp signal, as opposed to conventional pulses. The chirp signal is received by a second transducer disposed on the external surface of the pipe opposing the location of the first transducer, from which the transit time through the fluid is determined and the sound speed of the ultrasound in the fluid is calculated. The composition of a fluid is calculated from the sound speed therein. The fluid density may also be derived from measurements of sound attenuation. Several signal processing approaches are described for extracting the transit time information from the data with the effects of the pipe wall having been subtracted.

Abstract: There is provided a method capable of evaluating a fastening state of a threaded joint that is used as a joint of pipes or tubes such as OCTG with a high degree of accuracy even after being fastened and a method for fastening a threaded joint of pipes or tubes using the evaluating method. The present invention provides a method for evaluating a fastening state of a threaded joint of pipes or tubes including a pin having an external thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part on an outer peripheral surface, and a box having an internal thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part corresponding to each part of the pin on an inner peripheral surface and being fastened with the pin.

Abstract: A tracking device is provided with a non-contact type displacement gauge, a positioner which moves a flaw detecting sensor within a plane perpendicular to an axial direction of a pipe or tube, and a positioning controller which controls the positioner.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a technique for quickly detecting a defective portion including wastage, which has occurred in piping having a straight piping portion or a bending zone, in the nondestructive inspection using a guided wave. A guided wave sensor 3 included in a guided wave inspection device 4 is mounted to the outer surface of piping 1. A guided wave is propagated to an inspection area of the piping 1. If a defective portion exists, the guided wave sensor 3 receives the guided wave that has been reflected from the defective portion. As a result, the guided wave inspection device 4 can acquire receive information including receive information derived from the defect.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method relates to a threaded joint of pipes including a pin having an external thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part on an outer peripheral surface, and a box having an internal thread part, a metal seal part, and a shoulder part with the box and pin being fastened together using a lubricant. The method includes transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from a plurality of locations along an axial direction of the threaded joint in at least one of the internal thread part, the metal seal part, and the shoulder part of the box; detecting echo intensities and reception times of echoes for the plurality of locations; and detecting an abnormal portion in the threaded joint based on a longitudinal axial directional distribution of the echo intensities and longitudinal axial directional distribution of reception times of the echoes.

Abstract: Provided is a method and device for low frequency vibration excitation, which may generate a low frequency using a plurality of ultrasonic generators for high frequency. The method generates ultrasonic waves using a plurality of ultrasonic generators attached to a target structure to induce a beat phenomenon, and extract a frequency lower than a frequency of each of the plurality of the ultrasonic generators to measure a property of the target structure, and thereby may be freely applied to a target structure, regardless of a shape of the target structure such as a plate, a curved pipe, and the like, using a relatively small-sized ultrasonic sensor for high frequency, and may excite a specific frequency of an acceleration range, so that the ultrasonic excitation method may be applicable in a relatively poor Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) range.

Abstract: A nondestructive inspection apparatus includes a pair of guided wave sensors disposed on an outer surface of a piping and a guided wave inspection device connected to the pair of guided wave sensors which, outputs a transmitting signal for propagating a guided wave to the guided wave sensors, and obtains a receiving signal by receiving a propagated signal by the guided wave sensors. An inspection-result storage device stores the guided wave as a digitized signal of the received wave and an inspection-result diagnostic device performs arithmetic processing of judging whether or not a signal associated with a defect exists.

Abstract: A transmission probe and a reception probe for transmitting and receiving a wideband ultrasonic wave are provided. Each time when the locations of the probes and are moved, a received wave Gj(t) is obtained. Based on a spectrum Fj(f) corresponding to the received wave Gj(t), a narrowband spectrum FAj(f) is extracted. A component wave GAj(t) corresponding to the narrowband spectrum FAj(f) is found by inverse Fourier transformation. A longitudinal wave primary resonance frequency f1 having a relationship with a thickness W (mm) of an inspection target and a primary resonance frequency fS1 of a transverse wave generated by mode conversion are calculated. A comparative display of the component waves GAj(t) is presented using f1, fS1 and sizing coefficients ns1, ns2, ns3 and ns4 for high precision inspection.

Abstract: Generally speaking, the method of the present invention is performed by making various ultrasonic scans at preselected orientations along the length of a material being tested. Data from the scans are then plotted together with various calculated parameters that are calculated from this data. Lines or curves are then fitted to the respective plotted points. Review of these plotted curves allows the location and severity of defects within these sections to be determined and quantified. With this information various other decisions related to how, when or whether repair or replacement of a particular portion of a structure can be made.

Abstract: A non-destructive examination pipe scanner that employs a main carriage on which a sensor is mounted, a tensioner carriage and an idler carriage. The main carriage and the tensioner carriage are positioned around the pipe at spaced locations and connected on either side by a spring band. The idler carriage is slidably supported by the spring band in between the main carriage and the tensioner carriage. The sensor on the main carriage collects data about a circumferential weld on the pipe as the main carriage drives the tensioner carriage and the idler carriage around the circumference. The tensioner carriage has a variable length connection that adjusts the tension on the spring band to urge the main carriage, idler carriage and tensioner carriage into contact with the surface of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a substantially circular circumferential weld for connecting together an inner pipe and a coaxial outer pipe, either directly or via a junction forging, by using an ultrasound probe having a plurality of robotic multibeam piezoelectric emitter-receivers. The method is performed by: a) positioning at least one ultrasound probe inside said inner pipe; b) scanning the various ultrasound beams from the various emitters of said probe while the probe is positioned at a given position; and c) moving said probe in rotation about the axis of said pipe through a given angle corresponding to an arc length less than or equal to the size of the weld defects that are to be detected; and then d) repeating steps b) and c) until the entire circumference of the weld has been inspected. The present invention also provides a device for inspecting a circumferential weld that is suitable for use in a method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for testing the material of a test object (4) which contains at least electrically conductive and ferromagnetic material fractions and has at least one engineered surface (5), by means of at least one electromagnetic ultrasonic transducer assembly (EMUS). Said assembly comprises a permanent or electromagnetic assembly (1) comprising at least two magnetic poles (N, S) of different magnetic polarity that face the engineered surface (5), in addition to an eddy current coil (2) that is placed in close proximity to the engineered surface (5) between the two magnetic poles (N, S) in indirect or direct relation to the engineered surface (5). The invention is characterized in that the eddy current coil (2) is configured and arranged in such a way that when said coil (2) is supplied with an alternating current, free ultrasonic waves that run essentially perpendicular to the engineered surface (5) are generated and propagate inside the test object (4).

Abstract: A method of inspecting a rotatable shaft for the presence of defects may include continuously rotating a shaft under an applied load. As the shaft is rotated, an ultrasonic signal may be propagated along the length of the shaft. Attenuated or reflected ultrasonic signals may be collected from the shaft as the shaft is rotated. The presence of a defect in the shaft is determined by analyzing the collected ultrasonic signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inspecting a flaws in tubular disclosed herein include but are not limited to inspection stations comprising one or more chutes adapted to receive a tubular, an inspection assembly adapted to ultrasonically inspect a tubular in the one or more chutes, and one or more rotators for apply directional forces on the tubular to advance and rotate the tubular in the one or more chutes. The inspection assembly is adapted to ultrasonically inspect tubulars while the tubulars are under a rotational force in the chute. The inspection assembly may be further adapted to identify the end of a tubular in a first chute and index the position of the inspection assembly over a second chute to inspect a tubular loaded in the second chute.

Abstract: A method for the nondestructive inspecting of coated or uncoated pipeline, using ultrasonic guided waves excited on the outer or inner pipe surface, wherein at least one or more transducers are individually or simultaneously excited to generate ultrasound, wherein multiple received signals with different focal spot positions are processed and combined to produce a reduced number of final waveforms that show defect axial positions in the pipe, wherein a data calibration scheme is utilized to adjust velocity variability for all the guided wave modes at different frequencies, and wherein the hardware arrangement has at least one pulser channel and one receiver channel for the collection and storage of signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the ultrasound testing of hot rolling material during the rolling procedure in one of a plurality of rolling stands in a rolling train which are arranged one behind the other, comprising at least two rolls which leave a roll gap between them, there being associated with the rolls ultrasound testing heads which are arranged such that parts of the roll body itself serve as the path along which the ultrasound waves pass on their way to the rolling material to be tested in the roll gap, which is characterised in that the rolls provided with the ultrasound testing heads are adjustable, have a straight transverse profile and a diameter which is a multiple of the width of the roll gap, with the result that a large rolling angle (?) is provided, and these rolls are arranged in one of the first rolling stands of the rolling train.

Abstract: A method of testing for defects in the bottom of an above ground storage tank, the tank bottom having a lip extending outwardly from the tank wall around the circumference of the tank. A special magnetostrictive sensor is designed to be placed on this lip. The sensor is placed over a strip of magnetostrictive material, which generally conforms in length and width to the bottom of the probe, with a couplant being applied between the strip and the lip surface. The sensor is then operated in pulse echo mode to receive signals from defects in the bottom of the tank. It is incrementally moved around the circumference of the tank.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the reliability of steel in terms of inclusions is characterized in that the inclusions of approximately 100 ?m or less in maximum inclusion size are evaluated by microscopy combined with the extreme-value statistical analysis; the inclusions of approximately 100 ?m or greater in maximum inclusion size are evaluated by the ultrasonic flaw detection testing performed at a frequency of 5 to 25 MHz; and the reliability of the steel is evaluated based on the results of the extreme-value statistical analysis applied to the results of the microscopy and the results of the ultrasonic flaw detection testing combined.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound inspection device for the inspection of tubular workpieces, where the ultrasound inspection device can be coupled to the workpiece by means of a fluid medium, so that sound emitted from a transducer unit hits an insonification point on the lateral surface of the workpiece, the workpiece and the ultrasound inspection device can be moved relative to each other, and where the transducer unit is pivotable on a pivoting line which corresponds to an arc of a circle whose center is formed by the insonification point.

Abstract: A method for inspecting joined material interfaces, such as butt fusion pipe joints of plastic pipes, using ultrasonic waveforms to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable interfaces. The waveforms (amplitude vs time) having been transmitted to a material interface of interest are divided into a number of time zones and the amplitudes of the waveforms within the time zones compared against waveform amplitudes obtained from known acceptable joined material interfaces to determine the quality of the material interface of interest.

Abstract: A weld seam tracking device for tracking weld seams on pipes or the like uses NDT/NDI sensor(s) in conjunction with an NDT/NDI operation, such as an ultrasonic phased array (PA) inspection. Processing of the weld seam tracking data is integrated or combined with the existing data processing element of the existing NDT/NDI inspection devices. Wide scanning areas of phased array probes allow weld seam tracking and inspection to be performed using a single set of probe and data processing elements to achieve both fault scanning and seam tracking with a single run of the PA scan.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe apparatus for detecting flaws in a tubular includes a probe house. The probe house has an axial axis, a central cavity lying along the axial axis, and a bottom face adapted for placement on the tubular. The bottom face of the probe house has an opening in the middle. A probe support is disposed within the central cavity and rotatable about the axial axis of the probe house. An ultrasonic probe is mounted on the probe support and has a scanning face exposed to the opening of the bottom face of the probe house. The scanning face is tiltable relative to a selected plane of the tubular by rotation of the probe support about the axial axis of the probe house.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe apparatus for detecting flaws in a tubular includes a probe housing. The probe housing has an axial axis, a central cavity lying along the axial axis, and a bottom face adapted for placement on the tubular. The bottom face of the probe housing has an opening in the middle. A probe support is disposed within the central cavity and rotatable about the axial axis of the probe housing. An ultrasonic probe is mounted on the probe support and has a scanning face exposed to the opening of the bottom face of the probe housing, and may be coupled to the pipe with a liquid acoustic couplent medium.

Abstract: An economical, flexible, magnetostrictive sensor for use on planar and/or curved structural surfaces, for guided-wave volumetric inspection of the structure. The flexible plate MsS probe includes a flexible strip of magnetostrictive material that is adhered to the base of a flat, flexible, conductor coil assembly. The conductor coil assembly has a core that is composed of a thin flexible strip of metal, a layer of an elastomeric material, and a thin permanent magnet circuit. The flexible core is surrounded by a flat flexible cable (FFC) that is folded and looped over the layers of the core. The exposed conductors at the ends of the FFC are shifted from each other by one conductor and joined so that the parallel conductors in the FFC form a flat, flexible, continuous coil. The entire probe assembly may be bent to match the curved contours of the surface of the structure under investigation.

Abstract: A system and method for testing and replacing equipment are disclosed. The system may include a first memory module configured to store first characteristics of the first equipment; a second memory module configured to store second characteristics of the second equipment; and a portable reader configured to read the first and second memory modules and to compare the second characteristics with the first characteristics to determine if the second equipment is a suitable replacement for the first equipment. The method may include storing first characteristics of a first equipment on a first memory module; transmitting the first characteristics to a portable reader; measuring second characteristics of a second equipment using a measuring device associated with the portable reader; and comparing, with the portable reader, the second characteristics with the first characteristics to determine if one of the first and second equipment is a suitable replacement for the other equipment.

Abstract: The present invention provides new techniques for non-invasive and real-time measurement of the velocity profile of slurry flow in horizontal pipes, as well as the measurement and trending of pipe wear on slurry lines. In the first case, this information can be used to determine the approach and onset of solid deposition on the bottom of the pipe. Having this information in real time can enable operation at lower velocities or higher solids concentration or both while avoiding solids deposition or plugging and their associated operational costs. In the second case, the present invention uses a permanently or semi-permanently installed ring of conformable ultrasonic transducers clamped onto the outside of the pipe. These transducers are used to measure the thickness of the pipe under their respective locations.

Abstract: An inspecting device including a detachable probe has a link structure, and thus a subject having various diameters is tested. In addition, since various probes are changeably used in a scanner housing, ultrasonic wave testing and eddy current testing are simultaneously performed.

Abstract: A method for determining the type of a defect in a weld may include determining a defect location and a corresponding defect signal by analyzing ultrasonic response signals collected from a plurality of measurement locations along the weld. The defect signal and the plurality of defect proximity signals corresponding to ultrasonic response signals from measurement locations on each side of the defect location may then be input into a trained artificial neural network. The trained artificial neural network may be operable to identify the type of the defect located at the defect location based on the defect signal and the plurality of defect proximity signals and output the type of the defect located at the defect location. The trained artificial neural network may also be operable to determine a defect severity classification based on the defect signal and the plurality of defect proximity signals and output the severity classification.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe performs flaw detection of a high (t/D) metal pipe. The front end portion of a transducer has at least a portion with an asymmetrically curved shape having a radius of curvature which progressively increases from one end towards the other end of the front end portion. The probe is disposed with respect to the pipe with its end having the smaller radius of curvature positioned on the side away from the direction of propagation of refracted waves, the end having a larger radius of curvature thereof positioned on the side in the direction of propagation of refracted waves. Angle beam flaw detection is carried out such that incident waves are generated which generate refracted longitudinal waves which do not reach the inner surface of the metal pipe and refracted transverse waves which are focused on the inner surface of the pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the non-destructive ultrasound inspection of a high-pressure line as a testing piece by means of the pulse-echo method, where the high-pressure line is conveyed to a near-field range of at least one ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic pulse is emitted with a perpendicular sound incidence on the high-pressure line in such a way that the high-pressure line is completely captured in its cross section by the near-field sound emission caused by the ultrasonic transducer, and the reflected ultrasonic pulse(s) is/are received by the ultrasonic transducer and/or, optionally, further ultrasonic transducers, the associated echo delay times are recorded and, optionally, evaluated.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device for ultrasonic inspection of a weld seam of a longitudinally welded pipe for longitudinal defects with an inspection unit, which is relatively displaceable on a pipe surface on at least one side of the weld seam. The device also has two inspection heads in a tandem and spatially-variable arrangement, such that they can be positioned relative to the pipe surface to correspond to an intended acoustic irradiation angle independent of the diameter of the pipe. According to the invention, one inspection head acts as a transmitter and the other inspection head acts as a receiver. The device also has a pick-up connected to each of the two inspection heads, a coupling means connection connected to each pick-up, and a replaceable connecting element connected each pick-up via the coupling means connection.

Abstract: A method for processing ultrasonic response signals collected from a plurality of measurement locations along a weld of a test sample to determine the presence of defects in the weld may include filtering an ultrasonic response signal from each measurement location to produce a plurality of filtered response signals for each measurement location, wherein each filtered response signal corresponds to specific types of defects. Thereafter, a plurality of energy distributions may be calculated for the weld based on the plurality of filtered response signals for each measurement location. The plurality of energy distributions may be compared to corresponding baseline energy distributions to determine the presence of defects in the weld.

Abstract: The invention is objected to enable the provision of an vessel steel plate measuring device capable of measuring the thickness of vessel steel plate, even in the case of a vessel having a vessel mirror part formed by a spherical or conical curved surface such as a reactor (reaction vessel) and various kinds of obstructions at a vessel barrel. The structure of the device is characterized in that a supporting point member 20 is detachably provided from a supporting point set at the central axis of the vessel mirror part 1a of a reactor 1, and a traveling carrier 6 traveling on a steel plate of the vessel mirror part 1a and having plural ultrasonic probes 7 mounted thereon is connected to one end of a turning radius regulating member 19 rotatively provided around the supporting point member 20.

Abstract: A non-destructive examination pipe scanner that employs a main carriage on which a sensor is mounted, a tensioner carriage and an idler carriage. The main carriage and the tensioner carriage are positioned around the pipe at spaced locations and connected on either side by a spring band. The idler carriage is slidably supported by the spring band in between the main carriage and the tensioner carriage. The sensor on the main carriage collects data about a circumferential weld on the pipe as the main carriage drives the tensioner carriage and the idler carriage around the circumference. The tensioner carriage has a variable length connection that adjusts the tension on the spring band to urge the main carriage, idler carriage and tensioner carriage into contact with the surface of the pipe.

Abstract: A device for destruction-free testing of ferromagnetic component walls with respect to elongate defects has a sending transducer that excites ultrasound waves in a wall area of a ferromagnetic component wall magnetized in a predetermined direction of magnetization. The ultrasound waves propagate on a path oriented by the sending transducer. A receiving transducer receives the ultrasound waves at a spacing from the sending transducer. The configuration of the sending transducer and a high frequency emitted by the sending transducer, which high frequency is to be determined based on a thickness of the ferromagnetic component wall, are selected so as to effect excitation of horizontal shear waves of higher order. The path orientation is selected at a slant angle to the predetermined direction of magnetization. The receiving transducer is positioned lateral to the path and is oriented toward a predetermined testing area of the wall section in the path.

Abstract: A cylindrical metal part is formed by filling a metallic jacket with a powdered metal material and subjecting the metallic jacket to heat and pressure to cause the powdered metal material to form a unitary metal part. The small grain size of the metal material forming the unitary metal part will then allow for ultrasonic testing to be performed to detect voids and imperfections having very small dimensions. The ultrasonic testing can be performed through the metallic jacket, or after the metallic jacket has been removed from the unitary metal part. Additional forging steps may be performed to form shaped protrusions on the exterior of the metal part.

Abstract: An on-machine inspection method for detecting whether a shaft of a transmission system has failed uses a test probe from flaw detection apparatus to discover echo signals with known peaks corresponding to defined weakened portions in the shaft. The test probe is then moved to prescribed angular distances about an end face of the shaft to obtain the echo signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for remote frequency-based inspection of a valve seat includes inserting a frequency-based inspection tool into an inspection position over the valve seat and contacting the one or more supports to the inner surface of the valve seat. An input signal is transmitted at a desired frequency through the valve seat to a joint between the valve seat and a valve shaft via the one or more transducers. The shaft is rotated to remotely rotate the fixture, thereby allowing an inspection of an entire perimeter of the joint. An output signal is received and is evaluated to determine if an anomaly is present in the joint.

Abstract: Contemplated configurations and methods are directed to non-destructive ultrasound testing of stainless steel materials, and especially materials in a difficult-to-reach position, in which a phased array probe is operated using longitudinal waves, wherein the probe is further operated at an angle that provides substantially complete ultrasound coverage when the beam angle is modified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which is used to detect defects on a component of a turbine. Said method comprises the following steps; at least one ultrasonic signal is emitted and captured by means of a group beam examination head on a flat region of the component which is to be examined. The invention is characterized according to the following steps: the group of the beam examination heads are distributed into several virtual examination heads and at least one ultrasonic signal is emitted and captured by at least two of the virtual examination heads which is directed to an individual flat region which is to be examined.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ultrasonic testing system and an ultrasonic testing technique for a pipe member capable of detecting minute flaws of several hundreds of microns or less located at positions in the wall thickness inside portion of a welded portion of a seam-welded pipe and the like without omission and further easily setting optimum conditions when the size of the pipe is changed. A transmitting beam, which is focused to the welded portion at an oblique angle, is transmitted using a part of the group of transducer elements of a linear array probe as a group of transducer elements for transmission, a receiving beam, which is focused at the focusing position of the transmitting beam at an oblique angle, is formed using the transducer elements of a portion different from the above group of transducer elements for transmission as a group of transducer elements for reception, and a flaw echo is received from the welded portion.

Abstract: A method for nondestructive testing of the pipes for detecting surface flaws is disclosed. With of the method, flaws can be detected and analyzed in near-real-time while the pipe is produced. The data obtained by ultrasound sensors are digitized in a time window following a trigger pulse, and the digitized data are processed in a digital processor, for example a DSP, using wavelet transforms. The evaluated quantity is compared with a reference value, wherein a determined flaw-based signal can be uniquely associated with the flaw located on the pipe surface.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods that permit both real-time, and off-line, measurement of weld penetration depth. Exemplary systems and methods comprise an ultrasound source, such as a pulsed Nd:Yag laser, that simultaneously generates longitudinal and shear waves that radiate adjacent one side of a weld joining two specimens. An ultrasonic sensor, such as an electro-magnetic acoustic transducer or a piezo-electric transducer, capable of detecting shear and/or longitudinal waves, is disposed on an opposite side of the weld from the source. A signal processor is coupled to the sensor that processes time of flight signals for selected longitudinal or shear waves transmitted across the weld seam. The signal processor implements an algorithm that computes the weld penetration depth from the time of flight signals.