Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a non-destructive testing (NDT) that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to detect the internal defects of materials. Different manufacturing sectors frequently use this technique to check weld integrity, gauge the parts’ thickness, and detect defects without damaging a part.
How Ultrasonic Testing Works
This is the method through which the Ultrasonic Testing introduces beams of high-frequency sound into the material. When these waves hit a boundary, i.e., a crack, inclusion, or an interface, they bounce off. The inspectors use the signals bounced back in order to detect the internal faults and location, and the size of these faults.
A typical example is in angle beam ultrasonic flaw detection, where shear waves are used to examine welds. This is a very effective technique to find out linear and volumetric welding faults like cracks, porosity, and fusion lack.
UT Advantages :
- High penetrating power, which allows the detection of flaws deep in the part.
- High sensitivity, permitting the detection of extremely small flaws.
- Only one surface needs to be accessible.
- Greater accuracy than other non-destructive methods in determining the depth of internal flaws and the thickness of parts with parallel surfaces.
- Some capability of estimating the size, orientation, shape, and nature of defects.
- Nonhazardous to operations or to nearby personnel and has no effect on equipment and materials in the vicinity.
