Good Evening

All of You
 Non Destructive Testing
Industrial Point of view

Phased array ultrasonic testing

Seminar
Presented By
Vibin kumar.S
 Over all Topic

 Phased array principle

 Type of phased array
 Design phased array probes
 Animation phased array examples
 NDT Applications
 Case Studies
 Advantages
 Conclusion
 References
 Research paper
 Discussion
 Phase array, Probe, Concept

 Phase array
A mosaic of transducer elements in which the timing of the elements' excitation can be individually
controlled to produce certain desired effects, such as steering the beam axis or focusing the
beam.

 Phase Array Probe

These probe, made up of large of simple probe (individual elements) with variable geometry
(linear, annular, circular or matrix ) that can be driven individually & independently , with out
generating vibration in near by elements due to acoustic or electrical coupling.

 The Phase array concept

These probes are connected to specially-adapted drive units enabling independent, simultaneous
emission and reception along each channel. These units should also be able to effect, during both
emission and reception, the different electronic time delays for each channel.

For some applications implementing electronic scanning, not all the elements of the probe are used
simultaneously. In this case, the drive unit uses dynamic multiplexing to distribute the active elements among
the elements of the transducer.
Schematic representation of a piezo-composite late with a 1-3 structure
 Phased array principle

 The Phased Array concept concerns multielement transducers. Each element of

these transducers is connected to a different electronic channel, either directly
or through multiplexers, according to electronic device performances.
 About Phased array

 To handling the many signal from multi element single transducer.

 They use multiple transducer element and electronic time delay to

create beam by constructive and destructive interference.

 Using software control, the beam angle, time delay, focus spot, and
no. of active elements are defined depending upon the industrial
application.

 Phase array differ from the conventional industrial ultrasonic in that

beam can be focused , steered and scanned.

 industrial environment, such as temperature, pressure, vibration and

radiation are concern.
Beam forming and time delay for pulsing and receiving multiple beams (same
phase and amplitude).
Block diagram for RF signal processing on the receiving chain, after the
summation of individual amplitudes
Beam focusing principle for (a) normal and (b) angled incidences.
 Electronic Focusing

 The beam is electronically focused by applying symmetrical delay laws to the different
elements of a linear or annular phased array transducer.

 The advantages are

- Only one probe can focus at each depth
- Faster inspection of complete volume of thick pieces with dynamic focusing
- Electronic focusing can compensate focusing aberrations due to cylindrical interfaces
 Electronic Scanning

 The beam is electronically translated by alternatively firing ( depend up on activating

different active apertures) a given number of elements of a linear or circular array phased
array transducer

 The advantages are

- Faster inspection
- No mechanical movement required, or reduction of scanline number
- Possibility of combining with electronic focusing and beam steering
Electronics Scanning and focusing
Electronic Steering

 The beam is electronically deflected by applying delay laws

They are calculated to give the emitted beam an angle of incidence which can be varied simply by
modifying the delay law

 The advantages are

- Only one transducer required for inspection at variable angle
- Faster inspection of complex geometry pieces
- The advantage of this technique can be combined with the advantages of electronic
focusing
Basic methods of phased-array actuation
 Electronic

scanning focusing steering

Electronic scanning with normal beam (virtual probe aperture = 16 elements).
Delay values (left) and depth scanning principles (right) for a 32-element linear
array probe focusing at 15-mm, 30-mm, and 60-mm longitudinal waves.
 Delay Laws, or Focal Laws

 Phased array probes installed on the wedge provide delay laws with different
shapes, based on Fermat’s principle of minimum arrival time along a specific
path . Other types of phased array probes (matrix or conical, for example) may
require advanced simulation for delay law values .

 The delay on identical elements will depend on the element position in the
active aperture focal depth and on the generated angle
 Delay law

 A component in an electronic circuit that is introduced to provide a specified

delay in transmitting the signal .Coaxial cable or inductor-capacitor networks
can be used to provide a short delay but for longer delays an acoustic delay
line is required .In this device the signal is converted by the piezoelectric
effect into an acoustic wave, which is passed through a liquid or solid
medium, before reconversion to an electronic signal.
 Fermat’s principle (I)

 The path taken by a ray of light between any two points in a system is
always the path that takes the least time. This principle leads to the law of
the rectilinear propagation of light and the laws of reflection and refraction. It
was discovered by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat.
Example of delay dependence on refracted angle and element position for a
phased array probe on a 37° Plexiglas® wedge (H1 = 5 mm).
Delay dependence on pitch size for the same focal depth.
Example of delay dependence on generated angle, and element position and focal
depth for a probe with no wedge (longitudinal waves).
 Important parameters

The phased array ultrasonic technology is based on the following

technical features:

 a) Multiplexing of a large number of identical crystals as a single probe

 b) Control of the focal depth
 c) Control of the steering angle
 d) Control of the beam width
 e) Program of the virtual probe aperture (VPA)
 g) Display of the UT data in a generic view called S-scan
Specific features of phased array technology
 a) Probe design is based on modeling.

 b) Each active element of a multielement probe is excited by an independent pulser

 C) The excitation time is computer-controlled and delayed according to Fermat principle in

such a way that the cylindrical (spherical) wave front will reach in the same time (in phase)
the specific points in space.

 d) The wave front reflected by the defect reaches the reception; time of flight is delayed
according to the focal point, refracted angle, and number of active elements.

 e) The individual amplitudes from each active element are summed up (amplitude and
same phase).

 f) The focal law calculator determines the time delay on individual elements to steer and
focus the beam at different depths and angles. See Figure 1-3 for an example of delay value
(in nanoseconds [10−9 s], that is, a billionth part of a second!).

 g) Beam movement is linked with scanner axes and part geometry.

 h) The focus pattern of S-scan may be changed

 i) Inspection data is displayed in multiple views or layout; defect amplitude is color-coded

based on specific color palette

 (j) Data analysis is more reliable and efficient with customized

defect table and merging A-scans
Basic components of a phased array system and their interconnectivity.
Example of delay values on individual elements for steering the beam of a
longitudinal wave from −30° to +30
Detection of four side-drilled holes (SDH): (a) sectorial scanning principle;
(b) S-scan view using ±30°.
Multiple scan patterns
Different types of focusing will generate different S-scan views
 Continuation

 Multielement probe focusing at different depths and for different angles.

Note that the sweep range could be positive and/or negative; different
numbers of elements may be grouped to form a virtual probe aperture.
Detection and sizing of misoriented defects by a combination of longitudinal wave
and shear wave sectorial scans .
Generation and utilization of different wave modes
 General phased array probes

General characteristics
Active part piezocomposite material
Centre frequency from 300 kHz to 20 MHz
Relative bandwidth 60 to 90 %
Homogeneity in sensitivity 3 dB
Cross coupling between elements -40 dB
Acoustic impedance matching water, plastic material or steel
Housing Watertight, stainless steel
Cable Multi-coaxial, 50 Ohms, with overall
shielding

Options
Custom active part design (mechanical focusing, acoustic impedance
matching..) Custom wiring (cable length, type or positioning, Connector type)
Housing adaptation to mechanical set-up (probe holder, wedge ..)
Adaptation to environmental constraints (T°, pressure, radiation, vibrations..)
Integration of couplant system
 Type of phased array

Linear arrays for beam scanning

Linear arrays for beam steering
Annular arrays for beam focusing
Circular arrays
Matrix arrays
 Linear phased array probes for beam scanning

Principle
Made of up of a set of elements are along an axis.
They enable a beam to be moved, focused, and deflected along a plane.
Electronic scanning is combined with electronic focusing.
Wide inter-element pitch allows a large scanning width.
Focusing depth can be electronically selected.

Applications
All applications where a mechanical scanning axis can be replaced by an
electronic scanning axis, as for example :
Plates, billet inspection
Wheel, disk inspection by the lateral side

Advantages
Inspection speed (set-up, scanning)
Mechanical set-up simplification
 Linear phased array probes for beam scanning

Typical configurations
Total
Centre No. of pitch Eleme Max focus Lateral
active
freq element p nts distance in resolutio
length
(MHz) s (mm) width water (mm) n (mm)
(mm)
(mm)

160 or
2 64 or 128 2.5 15 to 50 750 0.5 to 17
320

5 64 or 128 1 64 or 128 10 to 25 300 0.35 to 6

10 64 or 128 0.5 32 or 64 5 to 16 150 0.25 to 4

15 64 or 128 0.35 22.5 or 45 4 to 12 100 0.15 to 2

 Linear phased array probes for beam steering

Principle
Made of up of a set of elements are along an axis.
Combination of electronic beam steering and focusing.
High density of elements allows high beam steering angles
Focusing depth can be electronically selected

Applications
Applications requiring variable angles and sound path, applications with difficult access
for the probes (reduced space, complex geometry) :
Pressurized components inspection
Rotor discs inspection
Blade roots and rotor steeples inspection
Weld inspection

Advantages
Feasibility of some inspections and access to difficult areas
Reduction of the number of probes
Inspection angle and focusing depth sweeping capability
Mechanical set-up simplification
 Linear phased array probes for beam steering

Typical configurations

Lateral resolution D (mm)

Freq. (MHz) Pitch p (mm)
8 16 32 64
elements elements elements elements

2 1.5 2.3 - 15 3.7 - 50 7.4 - 200 11 -600

5 0.6 0.8 - 5 1.9 - 25 3.7 - 100 5.5 - 300

10 0.3 0.4 - 2.5 0.7 - 10 1.8 -50 1.8 -100

15 0.25 0.3 - 2 0.6 - 10 1.2 - 40 1.2 - 80

 Circular phased array probes

Principle
Made up of a set of elements arranged in a circle.
These elements can be directed either towards the interior, or towards the exterior, or
along the axis of symmetry of the circle
Scanning speed can be adapted to the water path
Focusing depth and inspection angle can be electronically selected

Applications
Full body tube inspection from the outside
Welded tube inspection from the outside
Bar inspection from the outside
Tube inspection from the inside

Advantages
High speed inspection
High inspection flexibility
Quick calibration and set-up between two batches
 Circular phased array probes

Typical configurations

Inspection from the outside Inspection from the inside

Emission direction axial (with mirror) or radial radial or angled

Centre frequency 4 MHz to 18 MHz 8 MHz to 18 MHz
No of elements 32 to 512 64 to 128
Tube dimension 51215 mm to 100 mm OD Small tubes down to 12mm ID
Cracks location ID and OD ID and O
Cracks type longitudinal and circumferential circumferential
wall thickness measurement wall thickness measurement
 Annular phased array probes

Principle
Made up of a set of concentric rings.
They allow the beam to be focused to different depths along an axis
Focusing depth can be electronically selected

Applications
Application requiring variable focus distance, for example multi-zone inspection of plates,
billet or other pieces

Advantages
Reduction of the number of probes
Inspection depth variation speed (tuning, calibration)
 Annular phased array probes

Typical configurations

Max focus Lateral

No. of Total active
Freq. (MHz) distance in resolution
elements diameter (mm)
water (mm) (mm)

2 16 90 2700 1 to 24

5 16 60 3000 0.3 to 16

10 16 30 1500 0.2 to 8

0.15 to 4
15 16 15 600
Matrix phased array probes

Principle
Probe an active area in the two dimensional in different elements
3D beam control
Focusing depth is electronically selected
3D beam steering is feasible thanks to 2D active elements pattern

Applications
Inspection of complex geometry pieces with small access area
Inspection of non homogeneous materials

Advantages
Feasibility of new inspections
Performance improvements
 Matrix phased array probes

Typical configurations

No of
Centre frequency (MHz) Active size (mm) Matrix type
elements

1 50 Rho theta 80

5 13 Rho theta 80

18 10 Square grid 50

10 3 Square grid 9

7.5 100 Rho theta 121

Animation phased array examples

 Tube inspection example

 Weld inspection example

 Continuation
Weld inspection example
Design notes for linear phased array probes

Grating lobes
interference can also be constructive in other directions. These lobes of energy emitted
outside the electronically driven direction are called grating lobes

sin qk = k . l / p - sin q

q = refracted angle of the main beam

qk = refracted angle of the grating lobe k (k: integer)
P = inter-element pitch (p) of the linear transducer
l = wavelength in the medium under consideration
 Continuation

Lateral resolution along the plane of incidence

W = 0.44.l / sin ( a / 2)

W= focal spot or beam width (at –6dB in emission

reception)
l = wave length in the medium under consideration
a = angle beneath which the active area is seen from the
focal point
 Continuation

 Number of elements

 Knowing the inter-element spacing required to avoid grating lobes, and the width of
the active aperture, the number of elements necessary can be rapidly deduced.

 If the appropriate number of electronic channels is not available for technical or

economic reasons, the best possible compromise must be found, by readjusting the
inter-element spacing, the frequency, and/or the active aperture (and thus the
lateral resolution)
 Phase array feature

Feature Symbol Value (example) Remarks

Centre frequency [ MHz ] fo 10.8 for one set-up

Peak frequency [ MHz ] fp 11.2 for one set-up
Pulse duration [ ms ] Dt 0.32 for one set-up
Relative bandwidth [ % ] BW 78.5 for one set-up
Focal depth [ mm ] F0 50 for specific angles/focal law
Depth of field [ mm ] L -6 14 –86 for specific angles
Wedge delay [ ms ] TOFwedge 3.5 – 6.4 for specific angles
Refracted angle 35 – 55 , step 5 for a specific focal law
Signal-to-noise ratio [ dB ] S/N > 30 for specific angles
Start Scan – Index [ mm ] DXb 14 for specific angles
Beam divergence [ mm ] DX–6dB 3 for specific angles
Near-surface resolution [ dB ] An “ h =m m “ >2 for specific angles
Far-surface resolution [ mm ] A f “h” mm < 80 for specific angles
Skew angle [ ° ] q skew N/A for one refracted angle
Beam dimension on X [ mm ] X-3dB 1.8 for specific angles
Beam dimension on Y [ mm ] Y-3dB 8.5 for specific angles
 Phased array ultrasonic testing NDT- Applications

Nuclear power generation Metal industry

weld inspection
vessel inspection
Nozzle inspection
Rotor inspection
Blade roots & steeples
Penetration tubes
Stream generator tube
Thermal barrier of primary pump
inspection
Aeronautics
Composite materials
Stiffener inspection
Titanium billets inspection
Forging
Engine inspection
Ice detection
Spatial
Billets inspection
Plates
Tubes & bars
Petrochemical
Pipeline Inspection
Girth welds inspection
Heat exchanger tubes inspection
Transportation
Rail inspection
Rail wheels inspection
Car engine inspection
Forgings inspection
Application
Flow measurement
Distance measurement
special measurement
 weld inspection-NPG

 Probes
Linear phased array probes with wedge
TRL phased array probes (Dual linear arrays with roof angle)
Standard or custom TOFD probes

 Techniques
Various combinations of the following
- Pulse echo
- Pitch & catch
- Tandem
- TOFD
Manual or automated inspection
Contact with wedge

 Benefits \
Electroacoustic performances
Inspection flexibility with phased array technique.
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
 Vessel inspection-NPG

 Probes
Enhanced resolution immersion transducers (Fermat)
Custom immersion transducers
Phased array transducers

 Techniques
Immersion technique
Automated inspection

 Benefits High temperature aspherically focused transducer for vessel inspection

High resolution
Operating temperature up to 180°C
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
 Nozzle inspection-NPG

 Probes
Linear phased array probes with wedge
Integrated water system
Custom housing for probe holder compatibility

 Technique
Pulse echo technique
Automated inspection
Contact with water or oil film

 Benefits
High sensitivity and signal/noise ratio
Inspection flexibility to phased array technique
Access to difficult areas
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
 Rotor inspection-NPG

 Disk inspection

Probes
Pair of linear phased array probes

Technique
TOFD technique
Automated inspection
Contact with wedge and couplant film

Benefits
High sensitivity and signal/noise ratio despite the 25m cable
Inspection flexibility to phased array technique
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
 Blade root and rotor steeple inspection-NPG

 Probe
linear phased array probe
Centre frequency from 3.5 to 18 MHz
Number of elements from 8 to 64

 Method
Manual or automated inspection
Contact with wedge or direct contact

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances
Inspection from restricted spaces to beam steering without wedge
Reliability in industrial using conditions
 Penetration tubes inspection-NPG

 Probes

Extra flat probes : < 2 mm thickness

Integrated water coupling system

 Techniques

TOFD technique for axial defects

TOFD technique for circumferencial defects
L0° Pulse echo technique for thickness measurement
Automated inspection with a sword
Coupling with water film

 Benefits

Electroacoustic performances including bandwidth, in spite of the small thickness of the

probes
Inspection feasibility
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
 Thermal barrier of primary pump inspection-NPG

 Probes

Special curved linear array probes with soft wedge

Aspherical focusing to focus through a toric interface
Coupling with water film
Custom housing for probe holder

 Technique
Pulse echo technique

Active area geometry

 Benefits
High sensitivity to work through a 200 mm sound path in austenitic steel
High lateral resolution thanks to aspherical focusing
 Composite structure inspection

 Probes

High sensitivity and bandwidth Immersion probes

IM series
Linear phased array probes for beam scanning
Flat or focused active area
Center frequency from 1MHz to 7.5 MHz

 Techniques
Transmission
Work in immersion or with water jet (sprinkle)

 Benefits
Very high sensitivity and a large bandwidth to receive at a lower frequency due to
material attenuation and filtering.
Homogeneity of performances through the batches and through the years
Reliability in industrial using conditions including long term immersion
Flexibility of linear scanning for phased array probes
 Stiffener inspection-Aeronautics

 Metallic welds inspection

13 MHz focused linear array probes for laser welds inspection

 Probes
High resolution linear phased array probes for electronic scanning
Center frequency from 10 MHz to 15 MHz
Number of elements from 32 to 128 (typical)

 Techniques
Pulse echo in Immersion for laser beam welded fuselage panel
Contact , pulse echo or tandem for butt welds

Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and short pulse
Inspection speed thanks to electronic scanning
 Forgings inspection- Aeronautics

 Probes
Single element high resolution probes
Annular or Matrix phased array probes
Frequency from 5 to 15 MHz
Focused active area (cylindrical, spherical, bifocal or aspherical)

 Techniques
Pulse echo, immersion with 0° longitudinal waves

 Benefits
High resolution and sensitivity
1D, 2D or 3D focusing flexibility thanks to phased array technology
 Engine inspection-Aeronautics

 Special parts inspection Special custom probe for engine

part inspection with lamb waves

Special custom probe for engine part inspection with lamb waves

 Probes

Special custom probe with manipulator for lamb waves generation

 Benefits
Inspection feasibility to particularly adapted probe
 Billets inspection-Metal industry

Aspherically focused active surface

 Probes
Enhanced resolution aspherically focused immersion probes
Typical Centre frequency from 2 MHz to 10 MHz
Active aperture from ½” up to 6”

 Techniques
Multizone inspection
Pulse echo & Immersion

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and signal to noise ratio
Homogeneity of the performances over the batches and over the years
Reliability in industrial using conditions including long term immersion
 Plates inline inspection-Metal industry

 Inspection with crawler

 Probes
Immersion probes
Withstanding to high pressure up to 150 bars
Withstanding to high temperature up to 85°C

 Techniques
Pulse echo
Immersion in various liquids

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and short pulse
Reliability in industrial using conditions including hydrocarbons compatibility,
vibrations, pressure and temperature
 Tubes & bar inspection- Metal industry

Inspection with rotating heads

 Probes
Focused Immersion probes
Centre frequency from 3 MHz to 15 MHz

 Techniques
360° Mechanical scanning at a speed up to 10000 rpm
The probes are mechanically angled for axial or circumferencial cracks detection, or for thickness
measurement
Pulse echo Immersion technique

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and short pulse
Reliability in industrial using conditions including long term immersion and mechanical constraints
due to high speed rotation.
 Tubes & bars Full body inspection

 Probes
360° phased array probe for full body inspection
Axial, radial or angled emission direction
Centre frequency from 4 MHz to 15 MHz
Free number of elements

 Technique
360° electronic scanning
Pulse echo immersion technique
See virtual animation here

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and short pulse
Homogeneity of the performances over the elements of a probe.
Reliability in industrial using conditions including long term immersion
 Pipeline Inspection-Petrochemical

 Pipeline Inspection

 Probes
Immersion probes
Withstanding to high pressure up to 150 bars
Withstanding to high temperature up to 85°C

 Techniques
Pulse echo
Immersion in various liquids
 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and short pulse
Homogeneity of the performances over the batches and over the years
Reliability in industrial using conditions including hydrocarbons compatibility, vibrations, pressure
and temperature
 Girth welds inspection- Petrochemical

 Probes
Single elements contact/TOFD probes
Linear phased array probes

 Techniques
Combination of pulse echo, tandem, and TOFD techniques

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances
Reliability in harsh using conditions including temperature, mechanical shocks
 Heat exchanger tubes inspection
Petrochemical

 Inspection with rotating mirror

 Probes
high resolution immersion probes

 Techniques
Pulse echo
Immersion in various liquids

 Benefits
Electroacoustic performances: very high sensitivity and short pulse
Reliability in industrial using conditions
 Rail inspection Transportation

 Probes
Single element immersion probe
Linear or special phased array probe

 Technique
Probes have a particular mechanical arrangement to be inserted in a wheel system with soft
material for coupling on the rail

 Benefits
High sensitivity and short pulse length
Withstanding of harsh using conditions including long term immersion, vibration and temperature
 Rail wheels inspection
Transportation

 High speed inspection with phased array

 Probes
Linear phased array probes for electronic beam scanning
Centre frequancy : 5MHz (typical)
Number of elements : 128 (typical)

 Benefits
High speed inspection
High electoacoustic performances (sensitivity, pulse length..)
Withstanding of industrial using conditions
 Car engine inspection-Transportation

 Probes
High reliability immersion probes
Focused or flat active area
Centre frequency from 1MHz to 15 MHz

 Technique
Pulse echo in immersion

 Benefits
High sensitivity
Short pulse length for near surface inspection
Reliability and reproducibility over the batches and over the years
Withstanding of industrial using conditions including long term immersion
 Forgings inspection-Transportation

 Probes
Single element high resolution probes
Annular or Matrix phased array probes
Frequency from 5 to 15 MHz
Focused active area (cylindrical, spherical, bifocal or aspherical)

 Techniques
Pulse echo, immersion with 0° longitudinal waves

 Benefits
High resolution and sensitivity
1D, 2D or 3D focusing flexibility thanks to phased array technology
 Application

Flow measurement Distance measurement

Main features
Main features
High sensitivity High sensitivity
Wide frequency range, from 100 kHz to High precision
20 MHz Improved reproducibility
Resistance in harsh environment
- high temperature
Applications
- high pressure
- nuclear radiation - Distance measurement
- vibrations - Detection
- agressive chemical agents - Inspection
Consideration of normative standards - Process monitoring
- safety transducers
- anti deflagration
 Special measurement applications

 Ice detection
Probes
Bi-elements probes with encapsulated delay line

Technique
Analysis of the ultrasonic reflection on the wing surface
The probes are mounted through the surface of the aircraft wings

Benefits
Withstanding harsh environmental conditions
- Temperature from -55 to +85°C
- Fast temperature variation
- High vibration level
- UV exposure
Case Studies

A
FLEXIBLE PHASED ARRAY TRANSDUCER
FOR CONTACT EXAMINATION OF COMPONENTS WITH COMPLEX
GEOMETRY
 flexible matrix phased array transducer:
(a) Matrix of element molded in soft resin
(b) view of the reconstructed flexible matrix transducer
 Accessories Details
Transducer
Number of elements
Size of transducer
Active part
Centre frequency
Relative bandwidth
Homogeneity in sensitivity
Testing mode
Wave mode
Angle
Electronic scanning
A Mechanical device
Software
Acoustic impedance matching
Housing
Cable
flexible array transducer
12x5 independent elements
L16mm, B14mm, T10mm
piezocomposite material
3MHz
(-6dB)70 to 90 %
3 dB
pulse echo mode
Longitudinal/ Shear waves
45°
C-Scan/B-Scan
3D- profilometer (self-adaptive process)
CIVA software
water, plastic material or steel
Watertight, stainless steel
Multi-coaxial, 50 Ohms, with overall
shielding
(a) Simulation of focused beam transmitted through plane interface
(b) and a realistic irregular interface
(c) and optimisation of the coupling layer
(a) Simulation of the acoustic field focused through a plane surface
(b) an irregular surface with a delay law adapted to the plane
(c) and an irregular surface with a delay law adapted to the irregular surface
Calibration section
Mechanical and measurement tests carried out with the flexible array prototype with
integrated deformation measurement system.
Detection of a set of side drilled holes in pulse-echo mode with the monolithic wedge
transducer (left) and the smart phased array transducer (right).
3-D geometry of complex components
phased array transducer located on the intrados of an elbow with 70mm diameter and
60mm of bending radius.
 The advantage of phase array Technique

 A destructive testing method replaced by a non destructive method.

 Inspection times are reduced and increasing Productivity.

 flexible phased array to fit irregular surfaces

 inspection of pipes and complex geometry components.

 Mechanical reliability and feasibility.

 Small array size.

 Increase the detectability of misoriented defect.

 In case of repair it would be possible to determine of the position of the damaged sector
accurately.

 A self-adaptive process computes,

 Maintenance costs of these have been reduced significantly

 Conclusion

 Phased array technology are the technical and economic

benefits gained.
 Traditional mechanical scanning is replace by the much faster
electronic scanning.
 Electronic focusing allow the use of a single probe for working
at different depth
 Electronic deflection allows the angles of incidence to be
carried with only one probe.
 Costs are thus significantly reduced because of the inspection
and adjustment time saved.
 flexible phased array to fit irregular surfaces
 Research Paper

1. “Development of the Phased Array System for Angle Beam Testing”

Hirohisa YAMADA*1 Yoshitaka YANO*2Tateshi UDAGAWA*3JANUARY 2004

2. "Special linear phased array probes used for ultrasonic examination of complex turbine
components", J Poguet - S.A. / P Ciorau OPG Inc., 8th European Congress on Non Destructive
Testing , June 2003, Barcelona, Spain

3. “ Reproducibility and Reliability of NDT Phased array probes “ J. Poguet1, P. Ciorau 2 1

Imasonic S.A , Besançon, France; 2 Ontario Power Generation Inc., Pickering, Canada.

4. ”Implementation of Fiber Phased array Ultrasound Generation system and signal anaysics for
weld penetration control “ Bao Mi, Georgia Institute of Technology November 2003

5. “Fliexible Phased array Transducer for contact examination of component with complex
Geometry” O. Casula1, C. Poidevin1, G. Cattiaux2 and G. Fleury3 1 CEA/LIST, Saclay, France; 2
IRSN/DES, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, 3 IMASONIC, Besançon, France

6.” Special linear phased array probes used for ultrasonic examination of complex turbine
components”- Jerome Pooguet, Imasonic-France, Petru Ciorau-Ontario Power Geration Inc.-Canada.
 References:
[1] "Phased Array technology : Concepts, probes and applications ", J Poguet, J Marguet, F Pichonnat - .A. / A
Garcia, J Vasquez - TECNATOM , 8th European Congress on Non Destructive Testing, June 2002,Barcelona,
Spain

[2] "Piezocomposite technology : An innovative approach to the improvement of N.D.T. performance

usingultrasounds", J. Poguet, P. Dumas, G. Fleury – IMASONIC S.A. ,8th European Conference on Non
Destructive Testing, June 2002, Barcelona, Spain

[3] S. Mahaut, O. Roy, O. Casula, G. Cattiaux "Pipe Inspection using UT Smart flexible Transducer" 8 th ECNDT,
Barcelona proceedings 2002

[4] O. Roy, S. Chatillon, S. Mahaut, " Ultrasonic inspection of specimen with complex geometry using a flexible
smart contact transducer", Proc. of the 2nd Inter. Conf. on NDE in Relation to struct. Integ. for Nuclear
andPressurised Components, 2000, p 411.

[5] D.J. Powell and G. Hayard; Flexible ultrasonic transducer arrays for non destructive evaluation applications –
IEEE trans.Ultra. Ferroelec. Contr., 43(3) pp. 385-402, mai 1996

[6] R. Franckle and D. Rose, Flexible ultrasonic array application for both commercial and military
applications, 29th ISATA Conference, Italy may 1996

[7] A Technical Handbook of Ultrasonic Testing (A Newly-rivised edition), The Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun, Ltd. (1985)
pp.368-369(4) Birks,

[8} A., Non Destructive Testing Handbook, second edition,v. 7, Part 3: Tests with closely positioned transducers,
ASNT publication
Discussion
Thank You