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ADVANCED NDE SERVICES

The inspection industry is evolving, and with the latest technology and digital solutions, we are able to deliver a superior rate of accuracy, efficiency and safety.
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PHASED ARRAY AND TFM

Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) is an advanced non-destructive examination technique that utilizes a set of ultrasonic testing (UT) probes made up of numerous small elements, each of which is pulsed individually with computer-calculated timing. This technique can be used to inspect more complex geometries that are difficult and much slower to inspect with single element probes. PAUT can be used to inspect almost any material where traditional UT methods have been utilized and is often used for weld inspections and crack detection.  Total Focusing Method (TFM) is a real-time processing series of algorithms producing a computation zone in the area of interest in which every pixel if focused for unmatched resolution and defect imaging.

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PAUT Advantages​

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  • Faster process than conventional ultrasonics.

  • More reliable and repeatable results.

  • Better data quality that is encoded and can be audited at a later date or archived and used for maintenance trending.

  • Increased probability of detection.

  • Higher resolution for characterizing critical defects.

  • PAUT in lieu of traditional radiography testing. No more radiation exclusion zones, off shift hours or risk of radiation exposure.

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TFM Advantages
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  • Reception over a wide aperture.

  • Receivers with wide directional sensitivity.

  • Both reflection and diffraction signals received.

  • Ability to focus everywhere in the area of interest.

  • Provides the sizing accuracy of TOFD with no dead zones.

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TIME OF FLIGHT DIFFRACTION

Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) is a fast, reliable method of non-destructive ultrasonic testing (UT) typically used to inspect welds. TOFD calculates ultrasonic pulse time of flight to plot the size and location of an embedded  reflector. It's also commonly used for inspection such as piping, pressure vessels, storage tanks, and structural steel.

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TOFD uses a pair of ultrasonic transducers, one as a transmitter and the other as a receiver. Wide beam spread, longitudinal waves are induced in the material at known refracted angles creating lateral wave, back-wall and mode converted back-wall signals. Any flaws present in the material will cause diffraction echoes allowing the size and location of the damage to be displayed and characterized on a mechanized B-scan.

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TOFD Advantages​

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  • High speed data collection

  • Ability to locate defects regardless of orientation

  • Single scan required to cover full weld volume

  • High level of sizing accuracy

EDDY CURRENT ARRAY

An eddy current array, in its simplest form, is a series of single elements arranged in a row, allowing users to cover a larger area in a single pass than conventional, single-coil probes (i.e., pencil probes). However, this could lead to sub optimal results. That’s why ECA probes use multiplexing.  Multiplexing involves activating and deactivating coils in specific sequences to leverage the probe’s width. Multiplexing also minimizes the interference between coils in close proximity (mutual inductance) and maximizes the resolution of the probe.  ECA probes effectively eliminate the raster scanning necessary when using ECT pencil probes. This has a significant impact on inspection speeds.

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ECA Advantages
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  • Faster Inspections.

  • Wider Coverage.

  • Less operator dependent — Eddy current array probes yield more consistent results compared to manual raster scans.

  • Improved flaw detection due to the C-scan imaging and 3D views.

  • Eddy current array probes can easily be designed to be flexible or shaped to specifications, making hard-to-reach areas easier to inspect

  • Ability to scan through thin coatings or grease.

 

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