EMBEDDED MODELING TOOLS FOR ON-SITE INSPECTION OF WELDS USING PHASED ARRAY AND CONVENTIONAL UT

摘要

Ultrasonic inspection using either conventional UT or phased-array technology can benefit from software modeling tools as an aid to ensure proper weld coverage, correct probe positioning, appropriate focal distance, etc. New software tools are now made available directly on the phased array flaw detector to meet requirements relative to scan plan development. These tools provide advantages such that it facilitates the inspection work. Namely, not only one can develop an inspection technique before going on-site, but it provides the capability of allowing on-site adjustment when facing unexpected geometry or when planning was not possible. By providing a 3D visual representation of the scan plan, these tools make possible the assessment of an inspection setup before performing the inspection itself. Configurations ranging from setups with a single probe on a flat part to setups with multiple probes and scans can be defined. This paper covers the code requirements in terms of scan plan and shows how modeling software tools can help ensure compliance and proper configuration. Beam spread and coverage, near field length, geometry definition, stand-off offset, scanning direction and focal law visualization will be demonstrated.