Ultrasonic weld inspection is a non-destruction method used for detecting cracks and defects in parts and materials. This method utilizes sound waves for this testing purpose. Depending upon the requirements, parts of the materials that have to be tested are evaluated using contact or immersion ultrasonic testing.
Manufacturers and dealers of metal use this technique for material’s thickness such as measuring the thickness of a pipe. An individual who wishes to buy steel plate or any other metal could take up this test for testing the thickness, while the manufactured goods could be tested for any cracks or defects.
Manufacturing units or companies that deal with steel metal or other sheet metals use this testing technique. Various industries like aerospace, oil and gas, power generation and much more use this test in their manufacturing unit, on-site and field inspections for providing certification of the material. This technique can be used for concrete, wood and composites as well.
Very short ultrasonic pulse waves with centre frequencies that range from 0.1-0.15 MHz are transmitted into materials to detect internal flaws or to characterize materials. It can be used to test the thickness of the pipe for monitoring pipework corrosion.
In ultrasonic testing, an ultrasound transducer is placed on the material that has to be tested. The transducer is typically separated from the test object by couplants like oil or water, as in immersion testing.
Most of the companies use this type of testing over others mainly because of its numerous advantages. Few of them include:
- The test is capable of penetrating deep into the materials, which helps in the detection of flaws in the component, which other tests may not be ab;e to do so.
- The test can be used for highly sensitive material as well. This helps in detecting the tiniest flaws which otherwise can be missed by other tests as they cannot detect them.
- The test is believed to be more accurate than other nondestructive methods in determining the depth of the internal flaws and thickness of parts with parallel surfaces.
- This test can be used for estimating the size, orientation, shape, and nature of defects of the components that are being examined.
- The results of this test are immediate, and the units need not wait for them for long.
- This test is safe for the personnel and does not have any effect on the equipment that is being tested.
Quality manufacturers and fabrication shops house this testing technique to inspect the materials’ quality.