PHASED ARRAY SCANNER

The future of Ultrasonic Examinations

Phased array scanner technology is the most talked about ultrasonic technique in the industry today. The reason behind this is its capability of creating multiple beam angles and focal points with the use of a multi-element ultrasonic transducer, and providing a full volumetric sectorial scans (S-Scans), a feature unique to this technology. S-Scans are real-time side view images generated from a single inspection point; in essence, it depicts an internal view of the component being inspected. With this technology, weld flaw and crack detection and sizing can be achieved with pin-point accuracy and at a high rate of speed; many times faster than conventional shearwave inspection.

Olympus Omniscan MX2

Sonatest VEO

With phased array a simple line scan can be performed without the need for raster scanning which was necessary with conventional shearwave examinations when only one angle beam was used at a given time.

With phased array a simple line scan can be performed without the need for raster scanning which was necessary with conventional shearwave examinations when only one angle beam was used at a given time.

When performing weld examinations, two basic techniques can be utilized; a Sectorial Scan or a Linear scan.
A Sectorial Scan is a scan which transmits an array of ultrasonic energy at a specified angle range e.g. 40° to 80° at also a specified angle increment, e.g. 1°. More than 100 hundred angles (focal laws) can be introduced within a weld flooding the entire volume with precision ultrasonic energy.
A Linear Scan is a scan which only one angle is introduced but is introduced multiple times throughout the length on the array. This technique is dependent on the amount of elements the transducer has to fire; more elements, the more scan range.

Examples of phased array weld examination data superimposed on CAD drawing and images

ID crack on butt weld of two dissimilar pipe thicknesses

Crack in nozzle weld

Phased array S-Scan data from pipe sample with SCC

Phased array C-scan data from pipe sample with SCC

Phased array Corrosion Mapping