INTRODUCTION TO PAUT
Conventional ultrasonic probe for NDT consist of a single element that generates
and receives high frequency sound waves, Or two paired elements, one for
transmitting and other for receiving. Phased array probes, on the other hand,
consist of a transducer with 16 to as many as 256 small individual elements that
can each be pulsed separately.
These may be arranged in a strip (linear array), a ring (annular array), a circular
matrix (circular array), or more complex shape. Transducer frequencies are most
commonly in the range from 2 MHz to 10 MHz. A phased array system will also
include a sophisticated computer-based instrument that is capable of driving the
multi-element probe, receiving and digitizing the returning echoes, and plotting
that echo information in various standard formats.
Unlike conventional flaw detectors, phased array systems can sweep a sound
beam through a range of refracted angles or along a linear path, or dynamically
focus at a number of different depths, thus increasing both flexibility and
capability in inspection setups.
DEFINITION OF PHASED ARRAY
Phased array system utilizes the wave physics principle of phasing, varying the
time between a series of outgoing ultrasonic pulses in such a way that the
individual wave fronts generated by each element in the array combine with each
other to add or cancel energy in predictable ways that effectively steer and shape
the sound beam.
The elements will be pulsed in groups of 4 to 32 in order to improve effective
sensitivity by increasing aperture, which reduces unwanted beam spreading and
enables sharper focusing.
Software establishes specific delay times for firing each group of elements in
order to generate the desired beam shape, taking into account probe and wedge
characteristics as well as the geometry and acoustical properties of the test
material. The programmed pulsing sequence selected by the instrument's
operating software then launches a number of individual wave fronts in the test
material. These wave fronts in turn combine constructively and destructively into
a single primary wave front that travels through the test material and reflects
off from discontinuities, back walls, and other material boundaries like any
conventional ultrasonic wave.
The beam can be dynamically steered through various angles, focal distances,
and focal spot sizes in such a way that a single probe assembly is capable of
examining the test material across a range of different perspectives. This beam
steering happens very quickly, so that a scan from multiple angles or with
multiple focal depths can be performed in a small fraction of a second.
The returning echoes are received by the various elements or groups of
elements and time-shifted as necessary to compensate for varying wedge delays
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and then summed. Unlike a conventional single element transducer, which will
effectively merge the effects of all beam components that strike its area, a
phased array transducer can spatially sort the returning wave front according to
the arrival time and amplitude at each element. When processed by instrument
software, each returned focal law represents the reflection from a particular
angular component of the beam, a particular point along a linear path, and/or a
reflection from a particular focal depth. The echo information can then be
displayed in any of several formats.
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