The Objective

The Ultrasonic Testing process uses sound waves of short wavelength at high frequencies in order to identify flaws and/or measure the thickness of materials as well as to detect corrosion.

The Solution

Ultrasonic Testing equipment works with the principle of sending a pulsed beam of high-ultrasound from a handheld transducer, which is placed upon the surface of the object being tested.This wave will be disturbed and then partially returned from spots with internal imperfection or from the back of the material wall. Capturing and analyzing the return sound collect useful information, which are displayed upon the screen of the ultrasonic equipment, presenting the amplitude of the pulse and the duration taken for return to the transducer.By measuring this sound a skilled Ultrasonic Testing operator can identify location and size of imperfection, respectively the wall thickness of the material. Acceptance criteria define whether or not the indication is non-acceptable (a defect) or not.There are two methods of UT, Manual (Conventional) Ultrasonic Testing and Automated Ultrasonic Testing. Both techniques transmit ultrasound through a material and receive the reflected echoes from the back wall or from any defects. This makes it possible to locate discontinuities in a material or weld. During Manual Ultrasonic Testing the operator measures the material thickness by reading from the screen. The inspector then looks at the positions of the echoes and so determines the locations of any defects. Whereas with Automated Ultrasonic Testing, all the echoes and probe positions are stored on a computer. By using special software, it is possible to create an image of the inspected object, to identify any defects and measure the wall thickness.

Application Range

Especially for pipelines the recommended or required way of inspection – a balance between Radiographic Testing and Ultrasonic Testing - has been changing during the last couple of years towards stronger use of Ultrasonic Testing.