NDT Training & Certification

Ultrasonic Testing
Day 3

mmz 2003
 Sound Generation
 Hammers (Wheel tapers)
 Magnetostrictive
 Lasers
 Piezo-electric

magnetostrictive
mmz 2003
 Piezo-Electric Effect
 When exposed to an alternating current a
crystal expands and contracts

 Converting electrical energy into mechanical

- + + - - +

mmz 2003
 Piezo-Electric Materials
QUARTZ LITHIUM SULPHATE
 Resistant to wear  Efficient receiver
 Insoluble in water  Low electrical
 Resists ageing impedance
 Inefficient converter of  Operates on low
energy voltage
 Needs a relatively high  Water soluble
voltage  Low mechanical
Very rarely used nowadays strength
 Useable only up to 30ºC
Used mainly in medical

mmz 2003
 Polarized Crystals

 Powders heated to Examples

high temperatures  Barium titanate (Ba Ti O3)
 Pressed into shape  Lead metaniobate
 Cooled in very (Pb Nb O6)
strong electrical  Lead zirconate titanate
fields (Pb Ti O3 or Pb Zr O3)

Most of the probes for conventional usage use

PZT : Lead Zirconate Titanate

mmz 2003
Probes

mmz 2003
 Z
Probes
 The most important part of the
probe is the crystal
 The crystal are cut to a
X
particular way and thickness to
give the intended properties
 Most of the conventional crystal
are X – cut to produce
Y
Compression wave

X X

mmz 2003
 Probes
 The frequency of the probe depends on
the THICKNESS of the crystal
 Formula for frequency:
Ff = V / 2t
Where Ff = the Fundamental frequency
V = the velocity in the crystal
t = the thickness of the crystal
Fundamental frequency is the frequency of the material ( crystal )
where at that frequency the material will vibrate.

mmz 2003
 Probes
 The Thinner the crystal the Higher the frequency
 Which of the followings has the Thinnest crystal ?
1 MHz Compression probe
5 MHz Compression probe
10 MHz Shear probe
25 MHz Shear probe

25 MHz Shear
Probe

mmz 2003
 Probe Design
 Compression Probe Electrical
 Normal probe
connectors
 0°

Housing
Damping
Transducer

mmz 2003
 Probe Design
 Shear Probe
 Angle probe

Backing
medium
Damping
Transducer

Probe
Shoe

Perspex wedge
mmz 2003
 Probe Design
Advantages
Twin Crystal  Can be focused
Transmitter Receiver  Measure thin plate
 Near surface
resolution
Disadvantages
 Difficult to use on
curved surfaces
 Sizing small defects
Focusing  Signal amplitude /
Separator /
lens mmz 2003 focal spot length
Insulator
 Sound Intensity
Comparing the intensity of 2 signals
I 0 P0

I1 P1
Electrical power proportional to the
square of the voltage produced
2 2
P0 (V0 ) I 0 (V0 )
 2 Hence  2
P1 (V1 ) I1 (V1 )
mmz 2003
 Sound Intensity
2
I 0 (V0 )
 2 Will lead to large ratios
I1 (V1 )
2
I0 (V0 )
Therefore Log..10  Log..10 2
I1 (V1 )
I0 V0
Log..10  2Log..10 BELS
I1 V1
I0 V0
Log..10  20Log..10 dB
I1
mmz 2003 V1
2 signals at 20% and 40% FSH.
What is the difference between them in dB’s?

H0
dB  20Log..10
H1
40
dB  20 Log..10  20 Log..102
20

dB  20 0.3010
dB  6dB mmz 2003
2 signals at 10% and 100% FSH.
What is the difference between them in dB’s?

H0
dB  20Log..10
H1
100
dB  20 Log..10  20 Log..1010
10

dB  201
dB  20dB mmz 2003
 Amplitude ratios in decibels
2:1 = 6bB
4:1 = 12dB
5:1 = 14dB
 10 : 1 = 20dB
 100 : 1 = 40dB

mmz 2003
 Automated Inspections
 Pulse Echo
 Through Transmission
 Transmission with Reflection

 Contact scanning
 Gap scanning
 Immersion testing
mmz 2003
 Gap Scanning
 Probe held a fixed
distance above the
surface (1 or 2mm)
 Couplant is fed into
the gap

mmz 2003
 Immersion Testing
 Component is placed in a water filled
tank
 Item is scanned with a probe at a fixed
distance above the surface

mmz 2003
 Immersion Testing

Water
path
distance

Front surface Back surface

Defect

mmz 2003

Water path distance