GEKKO

TFM

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FMC / TFM Definitions

According to the EN 16018:2011 European standard: :

Full Matrix Capture (FMC): full matrix capture specific data-acquisition process using
ultrasonic array probes where each element in an array is successively used as the
transmitter, while all elements are used as receivers for each transmitted pulse

Total Focusing Method or Total Electronic Focusing (TFM): electronic focusing which consists
of adapting the receiving delay laws to focus at many points which form a grid, after a single
pulse which generates a large and/or divergent ultrasonic beam

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FMC
𝑅1
𝐸 𝑅𝑠2
𝑛1 𝑡𝑅3 …
… 𝑠𝑁1 𝑡
𝑅𝑁 N-element phased-array probe

sample P (reflector)

ascans
➢ Element n°1 fires
time

➢ N elements receive, we obtain a first Bscan

phased-array technologies | www.m2m-ndt.com |3

FMC
𝑅1 𝐸𝑅𝑠22
𝑛1 𝑡𝑅3 …
… 𝑠𝑁1 𝑡
𝑅𝑁 N-element phased-array probe

sample P (reflector)

ascans
➢ Element n°1 fires
time

➢ N elements receive, we obtain a first Bscan

➢ Element n°2 fires
➢ N elements receive, we obtain a 2nd Bscan

phased-array technologies | www.m2m-ndt.com |4

FMC
𝑅1 𝑅𝑠2
𝑛1
𝐸𝑡𝑅3 3 …
… 𝑠𝑁1 𝑡
𝑅𝑁 N-element phased-array probe

sample P (reflector)

ascans
➢ Element n°1 fires
time

➢ N elements receive, we obtain a first Bscan

➢ Element n°2 fires
➢ N elements receive, we obtain a 2nd Bscan
➢ Element n°3 fires
➢ N elements receive, we obtain a 3rd Bscan

phased-array technologies | www.m2m-ndt.com |5

FMC
𝑅1 𝑅𝑠2
𝑛1 𝑡𝑅3 …
… 𝑠𝑁1 𝑡
𝑅N𝑁
𝐸 N-element phased-array probe

sample P (reflector)

ascans
➢ Element n°1 fires
time

➢ N elements receive, we obtain a first Bscan

➢ Element n°2 fires
➢ N elements receive, we obtain a 2nd Bscan
➢ Element n°3 fires
➢ N elements receive, we obtain a 3rd Bscan

…
➢ Element n°N fires
➢ N elements receive, we obtain a Nth Bscan

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TFM N emitters
𝐸𝑠i
𝑛1 𝑡 …
… 𝑠𝑁1 𝑡
𝑅j

Aij
x
P


N receivers
𝑡𝑖𝑗 = 𝑡𝐸𝑖𝑃 + 𝑡𝑃𝑅𝑗

1. Define a region of interest in the component

2. Time-of-flight calculation tij(P) for all couple (Ei, Rj)
3. Amplitude extraction from each signal at time tij(P)
4. Sum of the N x N amplitudes

5. Perform the steps above for all pixels

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TFM
𝐸𝑠i
𝑛1 𝑡 …
… 𝑠𝑁1 𝑡
𝑅j

x
P

0.6 mm

2. Time-of-flight calculation tij(P) for all couple (Ei, Rj)

3. Amplitude extraction from each signal at time tij(P)
4. Sum of the N x N amplitudes

5. Perform the steps above for all pixels

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Comparison with electronic scanning

Electronic scanning TFM

• 8-element aperture • 64-element aperture
• Focused along the defects in the middle • Focused everywhere
• 57 shots • 64 shots
• Lateral resolution limited by the pitch; in this case • Step size determined by the system (Gekko = 65536
1 mm pixels); in this case 0.15 mm

• Focusing capability limited by the selected aperture • Complete aperture for focusing

• Directive beam (along direction of propagation) • Omni-directional beam

• Area of inspection limited to (N – A) * pitch • Area of inspection > N * pitch

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Comparison with sectorial scanning

Sectorial scanning TFM

• 64-element aperture • 64-element aperture
• Focused along the defects in the middle • Focused everywhere
• Sectorial between -55° and 55° with 110 shots • 64 shots

• Optimal resolution at the point of focalisation • Optimal resolution everywhere

• Directive beam (along direction of propagation) • Omni-directional beam

• Energy from N elements sent into the part • Only one element fired at a time

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 Characteristics of TFM
• For each frame, the Gekko acquire up to 64 x64 = 4 096 signals with up to 8000 points per signal to perform the
TFM

• The maximum resolution for the Gekko is 65 536 points, the Gekko adapts the number of points between the width
and height to maintain square pixels

• The maximum velocity for one data point per mm for 64-element aperture and 65 536 resolution is between 20 -25
Hz depending on the range (in mm)

• Because of the high data throughput the following are not accessible when performing TFM:
– Frequency filters
– Averaging
– Envelope on the elementary signals

• The rules for phased-array still apply:

– It is not possible to focus past the near field limit of the probe
– The steering capabilities are still governed by the directivity of the elements

• The recommended pixel size is ʎ/6. With ʎ/5, it is possible to have a variation of up to 2 dB

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Corrosion Examples

Detection No detection
possible

TFM Linear scanning

detection No detection

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Hydrogen Induced Cracking Examples

connexion

connexion

TFM Linear scanning

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