Phased array ultrasonic (PA) is an advanced method of ultrasonic testing that has applications in medical imaging and industrial nondestructive testing. Common applications are to non invasively examine the heart or to find flaws in manufactured materials such as welds. Single-element (non-phased array) probes, known technically as monolithic probes, emit a beam in a fixed direction. To test or interrogate a large volume of material, a conventional probe must be physically scanned (moved or turned) to sweep the beam through the area of interest. In contrast, the beam from a phased array probe can be moved electronically, without moving the probe, and can be swept through a wide volume of material at high speed. The beam is controllable because a phased array probe is made up of multiple small elements, each of which can be pulsed individually at a computer-calculated timing. The term phased refers to the timing, and the term array refers to the multiple elements. Phased array ultrasonic testing is based on principles of wave physics, which also have applications in fields such as optics and electromagnetic antennae.
The PA probe consists of many small ultrasonic transducers, each of which can be pulsed independently. By varying the timing, for instance by pulsing the elements one by one in sequence along a row, a pattern of constructive interference is set up that result in a beam at a set angle. In other words, the beam can be steered electronically. The beam is swept like a search-light through the tissue or object being examined, and the data from multiple beams are put together to make a visual image showing a slice through the object.
Phased array is widely used in several industrial sectors, such as construction or power generation. This method is an advanced NDT method that is used to detect component failures i.e. cracks or flaws and thereby determine component quality. Due to the possibility to control parameters such as beam angle and focal distance, this method is very efficient regarding the defect detection and speed of testing.[1] Apart from detecting flaws in components, phased array can also be used for wall thickness measurements in conjunction with corrosion testing Phased array can be used for the following industrial purposes :
- Inspection of Welds
- Thickness measurements
- Corrosion inspection
- Flaw detection
At a construction site, a technician tests a pipeline weld for defects using an ultrasonic phased array instrument. The scanner, which consists of a frame with magnetic wheels, holds the probe in contact with the pipe by a spring. The wet area is the ultrasonic couplant that allows the sound to pass into the pipe wall.
- The method most commonly used for medical ultrasonography.
- Multiple probe elements produce a steerable, tightly focused, high-resolution beam.
- Produces an image that shows a slice through the object.
- Compared to conventional, single-element ultrasonic testing systems, PA instruments and probes are more complex and expensive.
- In industry, PA technicians require more experience and training than conventional UT technicians.
- EN 16018, Non destructive testing - Terminology - Terms used in ultrasonic testing with phased arrays
- ISO/WD 13588 - EN 13588, Non-destructive testing of welds – Ultrasonic testing – Use of (semi-) automated phased array technology
- Ultrasonic Inspection
- Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) and Phased Array UT
- Magnetic Particle Testing
- Dye Penetrant Testing
- Radiographic Testing
- Eddy Current Testing
- Weld ability Study
- Visual Inspection and Field Services
- Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Testing
- Rebound Hammer Testing
- Rebar Locator
- Depth of concrete
- Half Cell Potential Testing
- Carbonation Testing
- Pile Integrity Testing
- Visual Inspection and Field Services
- 1. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Testing
- 2. Rebound Hammer Testing
- 3. Rebar Locator
- 4. Depth of concrete
- 5. Half Cell Potential Testing
- 6. Carbonation Testing
- 7. Pile Integrity Testing
- 8. Visual Inspection and Field Services
- 9. In-Situ Compressive Strength (design strength, and existing structures)
- 1. Pile Testing Systems
- 2. Structural Monitoring Systems
- 3. Asphalt Testing Systems
- 4. Pavement Testing
- 5. Rock and Soil Laboratory Test Systems
- 6. Non-Destructive Tests for Concrete
- 7. Geotechnical & Vibration Monitoring Systems
- 8. Pavement Condition Monitoring
- 9. Concrete and Cement Lab Systems
- Laboratory Tests on Construction Materials as per Standards.
- 1. Cement
- 2. Aggregate
- 3. Bricks
- 4. Blocks
- 5. Tension test on rebars
- 6. Chemical test on Rebars
- 7. Water Analysis
- 8. Cube test
- 9. Accelerated cube test (ACT)
- 10. Rapid Chloride test (RCPT)
- 11. Concrete Mix Design
- 12. Fly ash
- 13. Slag and Silica fume
- 14. Self compacting concrete
- 15. Temperature controlled concrete
- 1. Civil NDT Investigation
- 2. Concrete Investigation
- 3. coating Thickness Measurement on Concrete Structures
- 4. Compressive Strength Testing
- 5. Concrete Mix Design
- 6. Bitumen Mix Design
- 7. Core extraction Testing
- 8. Core Sampling Testing
- 9. Concrete Core Testing
- 10. Concrete Cube Testing
- 11. Chemical Analysis
- 12. Electrical Resistivity Testing
- 13. Ground Penetrating Radar Survey
- 14. Sieve Analysis
- 15. Ultrasonic Low Frequency Testing
- 16. UPV Testing
- 17. Vibration Analysis of Building
- 18. Leak Testing
- 19. CT Scan on Conctete
- 20. Element Analysis on Concrete
- 21. Impact Echo Testing
- 22. Linear Polarization Testing
- 23. Load Testing
- 24. Permeability Testing
- 25. petrography of concrete
- 26. Pullout Testing
- 27. Cut and Pullout Testing (CPO Test)
- 28. Impulse Response Test
- 29. Impact Echo Test
- 30. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
- 31. Crack Depth Measurement
- 1. Reinforcement Location by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
- 2. Cover Assessment
- 3. Half Cell Potential Tests
- 4. Resistivity Tests
- 5. Corrosion Rate Assessment
- 6. Carbonation Test
- 1. Bond Test
- 2. Anchor / Rebar Pull-out Strength
- 3. Chemical Tests