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In the last two decades automated ultrasonic inspection devices took over a lot of applications that prior have been carried out using manual inspection with the evaluation of A-scans only. In parallel phased array systems have been developed and brought to the market which offer detailed and fast control over the sound field. When applying automated inspection phased array systems for UT measurements imaging of the recorded data in combination with the probe positioning data is used for the evaluation of inspections. B-Scan, C-Scan and S-Scan images are typically used with this setup.
For more sophisticated applications with linear arrays echo tomography and syntethic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) are well known methods and often applied for high resolution image reconstruction. Since channel count of phased array systems is constantly rising, matrix arrays with up to 256 elements entered the market. Signal processing in the matrix domain became 3D. Since some years the Total Focusing Method (TFM) is an additional imaging tool for these type of application. It is based on the Full Matrix Capture (FMC) using the elements of phased array probes as separate transmitters and receivers.
In this contribution we discuss the common ground of SAFT and TFM as well as the differences between these imaging tools. The combined use of automated inspection, matrix arrays and signal processing for high resolution measurements is a challenging task where a very long parameter list has to be taken into account. Under which conditions which elements of the full matrix should be taken for the reconstruction for best results?
Based on examples taken from measured and simulated echo signals it will be shown how image resolution can be optimized in dependence of different parameters like the distance between transmitters and receivers and their directivity patterns, the depth of echo source and the specimen geometry.
Stress corrosion cracking is a transcrystalline or intercrystalline crack formation in materials which
occurs under the influence of static tensile stress or residual stress and a specific aggressive
medium such as chloride containing substances.
This special sort of crack formation is involved in complex crack configurations, which may
only insufficiently be captured by conventional ultrasonic probes with fixed angles of incidence.
Only a number of different beam angles produce sufficient reflection to reconstruct the complete
defect shape from measured ultrasonic data. The SAFT algorithm, which was recently successfully
used in many industrial NDT-applications, is a promising tool for the reconstruction process. In
addition, the combination of phased array technique and SAFT was developed in several projects
by BAM, Berlin. Investigations using phased array equipment were performed to look into crack
configurations in test blocks with different surface curvatures. UT-SAFT has been used for the
analysis of spark-eroded notches simulating stress corrosion cracks at the thermo sleeve weld of a
nozzle. For comparison, UT-SAFT has also been applied for the analysis of real reflectors at the
same position in a nozzle used in a power plant, which was repaired later on. SAFT-scans received
from reconstructed ultrasonic measurement data confirm the practical usefulness of the SAFTalgorithm
developed by BAM.
Bei der automatisierten Prüfung von Stangen mit Ultraschall-
Gruppenstrahlertechnik besteht grundsätzlich die Möglichkeit, Prüfkopfparameter
wie Einschallwinkel, Fokustiefe und Schallbündelbreite programmgesteuert an sich
verändernde Prüfbedingungen anzupassen. Zu diesen zählt die Temperatur des
Koppelmediums (Wasser), die in einem Bereich von 10°C bis 50°C liegen kann, was
zu unterschiedlichen Schallgeschwindigkeiten führt und den Einschallwinkel
verändert. Mit der Folge, dass unter Umständen die geforderte 100%-Abdeckung
des Prüfvolumens nicht mehr gewährleistet ist.
Auch geometrische Abweichungen, wie sie durch die fertigungsbedingte Streuung
des Prüflings gegeben sind, können Einfluss auf das Prüfergebnis nehmen. So
führen Abweichungen vom idealen Geradheitszustand zu Fehlpositionierungen des
Prüfkopfs, was wiederum Einfluss auf die Lage und Beschaffenheit des Schallbündels
in der Stange hat. Ähnliches gilt für nicht vollkommen kreisförmig ausgebildete
Stangendurchmesser, die unterschiedliche Schalleintrittsbedingungen bewirken und
Abweichungen von den theoretisch ermittelten Werten zur Folge haben.
Im Rahmen eines vom BMWi geförderten Forschungsvorhabens wurde der Einfluss
dieser Parameter untersucht und ihre Auswirkungen für den Betrieb einer
automatisierten Prüfanlage unter realen Betriebsbedingungen ermittelt. Dies betrifft
vor allem den maximal möglichen Schallbündelversatz innerhalb des Arrays, der die
Anzahl der erforderlichen Prüftakte bestimmt und damit die maximale
Vorschubgeschwindigkeit des Prüflings. Des Weiteren werden Möglichkeiten zur
programmgesteuerten Kompensation der untersuchten Temperatur- und
Geometrieabweichungen durch eine flexible Anpassung der Gruppenstrahler-
Prüfkopfparameter aufgezeigt.
This paper describes the investigations, carried out during the ongoing European Project WOLAXIM. It presents the development of the non-destructive testing system for hollow axle inspection. The phased array probe is designed, the inspection parameters are determined and the required test equipment is planned according to the specifications.
As a part of the probe design, a detailed model to calculate the sound field of the conical phased array is developed. With this model the optimal geometric parameters for bore diameters from 30mm up to 70mm are determined. The first design of a conical probe with forty-eight elements is realised. Based on this design a mock-up with ten elements is produced. The first practical tests with the calculated delay laws show high sensitivity for small test flaws and offer good agreement with the modelling results. The effectiveness as well as the sensitivity with a good signal to noise ratio is verified.
The parameters for a short inspection time less than five minutes per axle are determined. A raw scanning with 1.5° circumferential and 2mm axial resolution is feasible within two minutes. That is significantly faster than comparable mechanically rotated probe systems. The remaining three minutes are sufficient for the other steps in the inspection process. The required features will be fulfilled by the COMPAS® phased array device.
The feasibility of the ultrasonic system is shown. The specification and the theoretical probe design are complete and sufficient knowledge is present that the system will be viable. The results of the modelling and first practical tests show a good agreement with the objectives. The determined probe parameters satisfy the requirements.
For more than 60 years ultrasonic rail inspection is used as non-destructive testing method to ensure the safe operation of rail tracks. Constantly increasing traffic density and heavy loads have been the motor for the development of new test equipment from handheld devices to rail inspection trains. (Krull 2003)Up to the present most of the system solutions feature conventional ultrasonic transducers housed in wheel-type and slide-type probes. Different tasks have to be carried out during an in-service inspection for flaws in the rail head, rail web and rail foot as well as rolling contact fatigue (Heckel 2018). The more tasks the inspection system has to perform, the more probes are needed. Compared against standard ultrasonic testing methods the application of array probes offers advantages and flexibility by the electronic steering possibilities to control the transmitted and received sound fields. This allows to increase functionality by software while decreasing the number of probes needed in hardware in parallel. One drawback in application of phased array probes is that the repetition frequency of the subsequent measurements will be reduced by the number of virtual probe functions each phased array probe has to perform. This may limit the range of use for phased array probes in high speed applications. To overcome these limits special designs for array probes and signal processing are necessary.
For in-service inspections on wheelset axles with a hollow drilling, mechanized ultrasound inspection systems with single element probes are typically used. The ultrasonic testing in the zones close to the external surface of the railway axles can be realized from the inside of the bore hole, without demounting the wheelset and without dismantling the wheels and the brake discs. The testing system must be able to find flaws in the external surface of the hollow shafts, whose surface lies in the radial-radial plane, these are called transversal flaw. Presently testing systems are used, where scanning is realized in the circumferential direction by mechanical rotation of the probe system in the actual drilling. The phased array probe system, which is presented here, can carry out the rotation scan electronically. The scan can be carried out by simply moving the system forward and backwards through the drilling without mechanical rotation. Manipulation becomes simpler and the inspection time can be shortened considerably. The ultrasonic beam can be inclined exactly and be focused in the plane vertical to the specimen axis.
The probe is designed with help of indispensable simulations using especially designed software developed by BAM. The feasibility and the alignment between the simulated and experimental results were shown in earlier projects reported by Boehm et al. (2006) and Völz et al. (2012). The main task here is to optimize a probe for bore holes with a diameter of 65 mm with an increase in sensitivity and a high spatial resolution. This development will be carried out by use of extensive simulations and result in certain changes of the relevant probe parameters.