Of course there is someone who is familiar with this technique, and someone who is interested in it.

The most applicable industry/ies are those with current detection systems in place:

1) Aerospace/Space/Defense
2) Petroleum production and distribution
3) Automotive

Regards,

Cory

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

The time of flight diffraction (TOFD), phased array ultrasonic test method is used on a regular basis in the Power Generation industry. It is used for detecting incipient creep damage in high energy steam lines.

The reason I am asking about phased array is I would like to expand the capabilities of inspection at our company to include phased array. We do inspection of structural steel in the Seattle area and I would like to see what the intrest would be for PA in the steel industry. I would also like to see what other applications that we could market this method towards. Bridge and crane inspection is one area I think this will be very benificial. Any feed back?

Thanks

I have been to several conference were phased array was the headlining topic.  From what the speakers were stating phased array is the furture of NDT - no more gaps in production (fabrication) due to RT/Xray, plus better records of the completed inspection.  

I have a friend with his Level II UT who is all over the world right now scanning - he said he is doing phased array more and more.

http://www.ndt.net/search/mnogo/search.php?t=local&q=phased

Steve Jones
Materials & Corrosion Engineer
http://www.pdo.co.om/pdo/

The last reply from SJones gives some good examples of applications using a Phased Array instrument.  You can find a few more following this link: http://www.harfangmicro.com/Apps.html

I know that PA has been successfully used to replace X-Ray inspection following the AWS D1.1 code(Structural Welding Code-Steel). In this case, the application was the inspection of butt weld on windmill tower.

PA is also used to inspect bride pins. It offers the ability to perform volumetric inspection with minimum set up changes as compared to the conventional ultrasonic flaw-detectors.

Though phased array has many applications and some advantages, its uptake by your company may not be economically justifiable at present. This is because most existing engineering codes and standards originated before the silicon chip revolution when radiography was king and their continued use engenders a cycle of conservatism which no-one is prepared to be the first to break out of.

In order to repay the costs of equipment purchase inclding accessories and consumables, manpower re-training and examination/certification much work will have to be found for the PA system and its operator. I suggest that you do a net search to fully inform yourself of its technical capabilities and limitations and then try to find a customer with an application that can be comercially exploited.

Nigel Armstrong
Karachaganak Petroleum
Kazakhstan

Thanks Nigel

I do plan on finding an industry to support (exploit) the cost of PA. Are you really from Kazakhstan?

unkamiko

Here is a link to an excellent paper regarding PA's practical uses. Its author, Tim Armitt, has been a lecturer in ultrasonic testing at Lavenders - the best-loved NDT training school in Britain - for many years now.

http://www.ndt.net/article/ecndt2006/doc/We.3.1.3.pdf

One advantage of current PA equipment that Tim has not mentioned and which you should clarify with a potential supplier of PA equipment before purchase, is its data reporting capabilities. The hard copy radiograph is a major contributor to the conservatism within the engineering industry's attitude hindering greater uptake of UT in place of RT.  Are most end-users of NDE services aware that electronic files of ALL the raw data captured from scans are now available for off-line analysis and archiving?

RT will always have a place in engineering, but its combination of HSE problems (radiation, chemicals) and restrictive defect-orientation detection capabilities should pave the way for greater uptake of PA technology. Though we may witness a similar problem as with the widespread introduction of manual UT in the 1960's - 1970's, i.e. inexperienced and poorly trained operators deployed prematurely on critical structures by cynical managers.


On a personal note, unkamiko, I'm a British NDE specialist working in the Central Asian oilfields in Kazakhstan. Many people from all over the world are working here together with the Kazakhs and ethnic Russians.

i hope you have every success in introducing PA to your clients and enjoying its obvious capabilities.

Nigel Armstrong
Karachaganak Petroleum
Kazakhstan

P.S. This text book is available from Olympus NDT:

http://store.olympusndt.com/s.nl;jsessionid=ac112b2d1f437d27afe5e4f240828e3089c94c649c7b.e3eTaxePaNqNe34NaheQc34Sa3r0?it=A&id=18998

Introduction to Phased Array Technology Applications: Advanced Practical NDT Series, RD Tech.

Nigel Armstrong
Karachaganak Petroleum
Kazakhstan

How can one find info on NDT employment in Kazakhstan

Match your qualifications and experience with that being sought by potential employers through recruitment agencies.

Nigel Armstrong
Karachaganak Petroleum
Kazakhstan