Basic Principles of
Ultrasonic Testing
Pulse
The ball starts to oscillate as soon as it is pushed
Oscillation
Frequency
Time
a
Time
0 90 180 270 360
Phase
star
t of o
scil
T la tion
distance travelled
Distance travelled
Transverse wave
Direction of propagation
Direction of oscillation
Medium 1 Medium 2
Reflected wave
Interface
Reflected wave
Perspex Steel
0,13
-0,87
Reflected wave
Perspex Steel
+
Battery
Piezoelectrical
Crystal (Quartz)
Sound wave
with
frequency f
U(f)
Short pulse
( < 1 s )
Electrical Piezoelectrical
crystal Ultrasonic wave
energy
100 ns
N
Near field Far field
0 2 4 6 8 10
- +
Uh
0 2 4 6 8 10
+ -
Uh
0 2 4 6 8 10
+
Uv
-
+ -
Uh
0 2 4 6 8 10
amplifier
screen
IP horizontal
BE sweep
clock
pulser
probe
work piece
Probe
Sound travel path
Flaw
Work piece
IP
BE
delamination 0 2 4 6 8 10
plate
IP = Initial pulse
F = Flaw
BE = Backwall echo
s
s
Corrosion 0 2 4 6 8 10
1 T R 1
2 T R 2
0 2 4 6 8 10
Flaw
a = s sin
F
a' = a - x = probe angle
s s = sound path
a = surface distance
d' = s cos a = reduced surface distance
d = virtual depth
0 20 40 60 80 100
d = 2T - t' d = actual depth
T = material thickness
a
x a'
d
Lack of fusion
Work piece with welding s
1 2
surface = water delay
sound entry
backwall flaw
IP 1 IP
IE IE 2
BE BE
F
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10