Good Evening

All of You
 Non Destructive Testing

Phased array ultrasonic testing

( Electronic Time Delay)

Seminar
Presented By
Vibin kumar.S
 Over all Topic

 Phased array principle

 Type of phased array
 Design phased array probes
 Animation phased array examples
 NDT Applications
 Special Applications
 Case Studies
 Advantages
 Conclusion
 References
 Discussion
 Phased array, Probe, Concept

 Phase
The parameter defining the position in a cycle manner.

 Phased array
A mosaic of transducer elements in which the timing of the elements' excitation can be individually controlled to
produce certain desired effects, such as steering the beam axis or focusing the beam.

 Phased Array Probe

These probe, made up of number of individual elements with variable geometry (linear, annular, circular or matrix )
that can be driven individually & independently , with out generating vibration in near by elements due to
acoustic or electrical coupling. Then The transmit signal or receive signal is may be treated separately or
combined.

 The Phased array concept

These probes are connected to specially-adapted drive units enabling independent, simultaneous emission and
reception along each channel. These units should also be able to effect, during both emission and reception, the
different electronic time delays for each channel.

For some applications implementing electronic scanning, not all the elements of the probe are used simultaneously. In this case, the
drive unit uses dynamic multiplexing to distribute the active elements among the elements of the transducer .
Schematic representation of individual element in phased array probe
 The Phased Array concept concerns multielement transducers. Each element of
these transducers is connected to a different electronic channel, either directly
or through multiplexers, according to electronic device performances.
 About Phased array

 To handling the many signal from multi element single transducer.

 They use multiple transducer element and electronic time delay to

create beam by constructive and destructive interference.

 Using software control, the beam angle, time delay, focus spot, and
no. of active elements are defined depending upon the industrial
application.

 Phase array differ from the conventional industrial ultrasonic in that

beam can be focused , steered and scanned.

 industrial environment, such as temperature, pressure, vibration and

radiation are concern.
 Delay Laws, or Focal Laws

 Phased array probes installed on the wedge provide delay laws with different
shapes, based on Fermat’s principle of minimum arrival time along a specific
path . Other types of phased array probes (matrix or conical, for example) may
require advanced simulation for delay law values .

 The delay on identical elements will depend on the element position in the
active aperture focal depth and on the generated angle
Beam forming and time delay for pulsing and receiving multiple beams (same
phase and amplitude).
Beam focusing principle for (a) normal and (b) angled incidences.
 Electronic Focusing

 The beam is electronically focused by applying symmetrical delay laws to the different
elements of a linear or annular phased array transducer.

 The advantages are

- Only one probe can focus at each depth
- Faster inspection of complete volume of thick pieces with dynamic focusing
 Electronic Scanning

 The beam is electronically translated by alternatively firing ( depend up on activating

different active apertures) a given number of elements of a linear or circular array phased
array transducer

 The advantages are

- Faster inspection
- No mechanical movement required, or reduction of scanline number
- Possibility of combining with electronic focusing and beam steering
Electronics Scanning and focusing
Electronic Steering

 The beam is electronically deflected by applying delay laws

They are calculated to give the emitted beam an angle of incidence which can be varied simply by
modifying the delay law

 The advantages are

- Only one transducer required for inspection at variable angle
- Faster inspection of complex geometry pieces
- The advantage of this technique can be combined with the advantages of electronic
focusing
 Electronic

scanning focusing steering

Electronic scanning with normal beam (virtual probe aperture = 16 elements).
Delay values (left) and depth scanning principles (right) for a 32-element linear
array probe focusing at 15-mm, 30-mm, and 60-mm longitudinal waves.
∆
Delay dependence on pitch size for the same focal depth.
Example of delay dependence on generated angle, and element position and focal
depth for a probe with no wedge (longitudinal waves).
Example of delay dependence on refracted angle and element position for a
phased array probe on a 37° Plexiglas® wedge (H1 = 5 mm).
Different types of focusing will generate different S-scan views
 Continuation

 Multielement probe focusing at different depths and for different angles.

Note that the sweep range could be positive and/or negative; different
numbers of elements may be grouped to form a virtual probe aperture.
Detection and sizing of misoriented defects by a combination of longitudinal wave
and shear wave sectorial scans .
Generation and utilization of different wave modes
 Important parameters

The phased array ultrasonic technology is based on the following

technical features:

 a) Multiplexing of a large number of identical crystals as a single probe

 b) Control of the focal depth
 c) Control of the steering angle
 d) Control of the beam width
 e) Program of the virtual probe aperture (VPA)
 g) Display of the UT data in a generic view called S-scan
Phased array Calibration Block
Phased array The Block
Detection of four side-drilled holes (SDH): (a) sectorial scanning principle;
(b) S-scan view using ±30°.
Place fixed angle conventional probe and phased array
probe in same position on the block.

Record display, compare results

Angle Scanning 35-75deg
Basic components of a phased array system and their interconnectivity.
Phased Array System
 General phased array probes

General characteristics
Active part piezocomposite material
Centre frequency from 300 kHz to 20 MHz
Relative bandwidth 60 to 90 %
Homogeneity in sensitivity 3 dB
Cross coupling between elements -40 dB
Acoustic impedance matching water, plastic material or steel
Housing Watertight, stainless steel
Cable Multi-coaxial, 50 Ohms, with overall
shielding

Options
Custom active part design (mechanical focusing, acoustic impedance
matching..) Custom wiring (cable length, type or positioning, Connector type)
Housing adaptation to mechanical set-up (probe holder, wedge ..)
Adaptation to environmental constraints (T°, pressure, radiation, vibrations..)
Integration of couplant system
 Type of phased array

Linear arrays for beam scanning

Linear arrays for beam steering
Annular arrays for beam focusing
Circular arrays
Matrix arrays
 Linear phased array probes for beam scanning

Principle
Made of up of a set of elements are along an axis.
They enable a beam to be moved, focused, and deflected along a plane.
Electronic scanning is combined with electronic focusing.
Wide inter-element pitch allows a large scanning width.
Focusing depth can be electronically selected.

Applications
All applications where a mechanical scanning axis can be replaced by an
electronic scanning axis, as for example :
Plates, billet inspection
Wheel, disk inspection by the lateral side

Advantages
Inspection speed (set-up, scanning)
Mechanical set-up simplification
 Linear phased array probes for beam steering

Principle
Made of up of a set of elements are along an axis.
Combination of electronic beam steering and focusing.
High density of elements allows high beam steering angles
Focusing depth can be electronically selected

Applications
Applications requiring variable angles and sound path, applications with difficult access
for the probes (reduced space, complex geometry) :
Pressurized components inspection
Rotor discs inspection
Blade roots and rotor steeples inspection
Weld inspection

Advantages
Feasibility of some inspections and access to difficult areas
Reduction of the number of probes
Inspection angle and focusing depth sweeping capability
Mechanical set-up simplification
 Circular phased array probes

Principle
Made up of a set of elements arranged in a circle.
These elements can be directed either towards the interior, or towards the exterior,
or along the axis of symmetry of the circle
Scanning speed can be adapted to the path
Focusing depth and inspection angle can be electronically selected

Applications
Full body tube inspection from the outside
Welded tube inspection from the outside
Bar inspection from the outside
Tube inspection from the inside

Advantages
High speed inspection
High inspection flexibility
Quick calibration and set-up between two batches
 Annular phased array probes

Principle
Made up of a set of concentric rings.
They allow the beam to be focused to different depths along an axis
Focusing depth can be electronically selected

Applications
Application requiring variable focus distance, for example multi-zone inspection of plates,
billet or other pieces

Advantages
Reduction of the number of probes
Inspection depth variation speed (tuning, calibration)
Matrix phased array probes

Principle
Probe an active area in the two dimensional in different elements
3D beam control
Focusing depth is electronically selected
3D beam steering is feasible thanks to 2D active elements pattern

Applications
Inspection of complex geometry pieces with small access area
Inspection of non homogeneous materials

Advantages
Feasibility of new inspections
Performance improvements
Design notes for linear phased array probes

Grating lobes
interference can also be constructive in other directions. These lobes of energy emitted
outside the electronically driven direction are called grating lobes

sin a = k . l / p - sinb

b = refracted angle of the main beam

a = refracted angle of the grating lobe k (k: integer)
P = inter-element pitch (p) of the linear transducer
l = wavelength in the medium under consideration
Basic methods of phased-array actuation
 Continuation

 Number of elements

 Knowing the inter-element spacing required to avoid grating lobes, and the width of
the active aperture, the number of elements necessary can be rapidly deduced.

 If the appropriate number of electronic channels is not available for technical or

economic reasons, the best possible compromise must be found, by readjusting the
inter-element spacing, the frequency, and/or the active aperture (and thus the
lateral resolution)
 Continuation

Lateral resolution along the plane of incidence

W = 0.44.l / sin ( a / 2)

W= focal spot or beam width (at –6dB in emission

reception)
l = wave length in the medium under consideration
a = angle beneath which the active area is seen from the
focal point
 Phased array feature

Feature Symbol Value (example) Remarks

Centre frequency [ MHz ] fo 10.8 for one set-up

Peak frequency [ MHz ] fp 11.2 for one set-up
Pulse duration [ ms ] Dt 0.32 for one set-up
Relative bandwidth [ % ] BW 78.5 for one set-up
Focal depth [ mm ] F0 50 for specific angles/focal law
Depth of field [ mm ] L -6 14 –86 for specific angles
Wedge delay [ ms ] TOFwedge 3.5 – 6.4 for specific angles
Refracted angle 35 – 55 , step 5 for a specific focal law
Signal-to-noise ratio [ dB ] S/N > 30 for specific angles
Start Scan – Index [ mm ] DXb 14 for specific angles
Beam divergence [ mm ] DX–6dB 3 for specific angles
Near-surface resolution [ dB ] An “ h =m m “ >2 for specific angles
Far-surface resolution [ mm ] A f “h” mm < 80 for specific angles
Skew angle [ ° ] q skew N/A for one refracted angle
Beam dimension on X [ mm ] X-3dB 1.8 for specific angles
Beam dimension on Y [ mm ] Y-3dB 8.5 for specific angles
Animation phased array examples

 Tube inspection example

 Weld inspection example

Continuation
Weld inspection example
 Phased array ultrasonic testing NDT- Applications

Nuclear power generation Metal industry

weld inspection
vessel inspection
Nozzle inspection
Rotor inspection
Blade roots & steeples
Penetration tubes
Stream generator tube
Thermal barrier of primary pump
inspection
Aeronautics
Composite materials
Stiffener inspection
Titanium billets inspection
Forging
Engine inspection
Ice detection
Spatial
Billets inspection
Plates
Tubes & bars
Petrochemical
Pipeline Inspection
Girth welds inspection
Heat exchanger tubes inspection
Transportation
Rail inspection
Rail wheels inspection
Car engine inspection
Forgings inspection
Application
Flow measurement
Distance measurement
special measurement
 Nozzle inspection-NPG

 Probes
Linear phased array probes with wedge
Integrated water system
Custom housing for probe holder compatibility

 Technique
Pulse echo technique
Automated inspection
Contact with water or oil film

 Benefits
High sensitivity and signal/noise ratio
Inspection flexibility to phased array technique
Access to difficult areas
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
 Rotor inspection-NPG

 Disk inspection

Probes
Pair of linear phased array probes

Technique
TOFD technique
Automated inspection
Contact with wedge and couplant film

Benefits
High sensitivity and signal/noise ratio despite the 25m cable
Inspection flexibility to phased array technique
Reliability in industrial using conditions including radiation
Case Studies

A
FLEXIBLE PHASED ARRAY TRANSDUCER
FOR CONTACT EXAMINATION OF COMPONENTS WITH COMPLEX
GEOMETRY
 flexible matrix phased array transducer:
(a) Matrix of element molded in soft resin
(b) view of the reconstructed flexible matrix transducer
 Accessories Details
Transducer
Number of elements
Size of transducer
Active part
Centre frequency
Relative bandwidth
Homogeneity in sensitivity
Testing mode
Wave mode
Angle
Electronic scanning
A Mechanical device
Software
Acoustic impedance matching
Housing
Cable
flexible array transducer
12x5 independent elements
L16mm, B14mm, T10mm
piezocomposite material
3MHz
(-6dB)70 to 90 %
3 dB
pulse echo mode
Longitudinal/ Shear waves
45°
C-Scan/B-Scan
3D- profilometer (self-adaptive process)
CIVA software
water, plastic material or steel
Watertight, stainless steel
Multi-coaxial, 50 Ohms, with overall
shielding
(a) Simulation of focused beam transmitted through plane interface
(b) and a realistic irregular interface
(c) and optimisation of the coupling layer
(a) Simulation of the acoustic field focused through a plane surface
(b) an irregular surface with a delay law adapted to the plane
(c) and an irregular surface with a delay law adapted to the irregular surface
Calibration section
Mechanical and measurement tests carried out with the flexible array prototype with
integrated deformation measurement system.
Detection of a set of side drilled holes in pulse-echo mode with the monolithic wedge
transducer (left) and the smart phased array transducer (right).
3-D geometry of complex components
Focus control allows ideal beam spot to be selected for
any range
 The advantage of phased array Technique

 A destructive testing method replaced by a non destructive method.

 Inspection times are reduced and increasing Productivity.

 flexible phased array to fit irregular surfaces

 inspection of pipes and complex geometry components.

 Mechanical reliability and feasibility.

 Small array size.

 Increase the detectability of misoriented defect.

 In case of repair it would be possible to determine of the position of the damaged sector
accurately.

 A self-adaptive process computes,

 Maintenance costs of these have been reduced significantly

 Conclusion
 Phased array technology are the technical and economic
benefits gained.
 Traditional mechanical scanning is replace by the much
faster electronic scanning.
 Electronic focusing allow the use of a single probe for
working at different depth
 Electronic deflection allows the angles of incidence to be
carried with only one probe.
 Costs are thus significantly reduced because of the
inspection and adjustment time saved.
 flexible phased array to fit irregular surfaces
 Reference
[1] "Phased Array technology : Concepts, probes and applications ", J Poguet, J Marguet, F Pichonnat –
.A. / A Garcia, J Vasquez - TECNATOM , 8th European Congress on Non Destructive Testing, June
2002,Barcelona, Spain

[2] "Piezocomposite technology : An innovative approach to the improvement of N.D.T. performance

usingultrasounds", J. Poguet, P. Dumas, G. Fleury – IMASONIC S.A. ,8th European Conference on
Non Destructive Testing, June 2002, Barcelona, Spain

[3] S. Mahaut, O. Roy, O. Casula, G. Cattiaux "Pipe Inspection using UT Smart flexible Transducer" 8th
ECNDT, Barcelona proceedings 2002

[4] O. Roy, S. Chatillon, S. Mahaut, " Ultrasonic inspection of specimen with complex geometry using a
flexible smart contact transducer", Proc. of the 2nd Inter. Conf. on NDE in Relation to struct. Integ.
for Nuclear andPressurised Components, 2000, p 411.
[5] D.J. Powell and G. Hayard; Flexible ultrasonic transducer arrays for non destructive evaluation
applications – IEEE trans.Ultra. Ferroelec. Contr., 43(3) pp. 385-402, mai 1996

[6] R. Franckle and D. Rose, Flexible ultrasonic array application for both commercial and military
applications, 29th ISATA Conference, Italy may 1996

[7] A Technical Handbook of Ultrasonic Testing (A Newly-rivised edition), The Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun,
Ltd. (1985) pp.368-369(4) Birks,

[8] A., Non Destructive Testing Handbook, second edition,v. 7, Part 3: Tests with closely positioned
transducers, ASNT publication
Discussion
Thank You
One and All
By
Vibinkumar.S