Setting up TOFD

Determine PCS
 2 d Tan ( theta ) to focus at a determined point
 4/3 d Tan (theta) to focus at 2/3 d
 d= depth of focus or part thickness
 theta = refracted angle of wedge
 ex: 25 mm butt-weld-
 Focus at center using 70 degree wedges

2 (12.5) (Tan 70)= 69mm PCS

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How is It Determined?
General rule- for linear joints focus at 2/3 total T.
D= total part T
Theta=angle of sound in material (wedge angle)
4/3 D x Tan theta
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Focus at Point of Interest
 Used when expected 2D Tan θ
indications are at
predetermined location
(ex: root) or multiple
Tofd pairs to cover
large volumes.

 D=where want to focus

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 In general a wider PCS
Effect of PCS results in more coverage of
the material but can lead to
missed areas- improper
calculations can be
detrimental to coverage!

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Effect of Angle
The amplitude response
from the bottom and top tip
of a vertical crack varies as
a function of beam angle.
The amplitude has the
greatest response around
65 degrees. Between 45
and 80 degrees the
amplitude difference is less
than 6 db. Notice around 38
deg. the signal from the
Optimum
bottom crack tip drops off in Upper tip
q ≈ 64°
amplitude greatly. Optimum
Lower tip
From Charlesworth & Temple
7 q ≈ 68°
Calculator

TOFD probe separation can be calculated with basic mathematical formula or Excel
calculator tools

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Choosing Probes- Give and Take-Overview
 Highly dampened- to reduce
ring time and increase near
surface resolution
 Frequency- lower frequency will
give more beam spread for
detection with less resolution.
Higher frequency probes
attenuate faster. Increased
frequency= more cycles occur=
better depth resolution
 Diameter- smaller crystals will
create more beam spread, but
again beam intensity is less.
 A number of guides are
available

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Choosing Probes-Frequency and depth resolution
 More cycles within the time
frame between LW and
BW=better depth
resolution
 General rule- aim for 20 or
better cycles (30 and over
optimum)
 Positive-increased
frequency= increased
cycles
 Negative-beam spread
reduced,
attenuation/scatter
increased
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T in LW- 1 MHz 3 MHz 5 MHz 10 20
mm BW # # # MHz MHz
focus time cycles cycles cycles # #
2/3 T us cycles cycles
10 1.25 1.3 3.8 6.3 12.5 25.1

25 3.13 3.1 9.4 15.7 31.3 62.7

50 6.265 6.3 18.8 31.3 62.7 125.3

100 12.53 12.5 37.6 62.7 125.3 250.7

narrow bs

PCS 84 mm

3 MHz 6mm dia

big beam spread

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Effect of Frequency on Beam Spread

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Effect of Crystal Diameter on Beam Spread

3mm dia

12mm dia

6mm dia
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Effect of Wedge Angle

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Comparing Wedge Angles
In general, the higher the
wedge angle, the more 45 60 70
the time scale will be
compressed.
In general a higher
wedge angle gives
more coverage.

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Setting Filters
 General rule
 High pass- ½ Frequency
 Low pass- 2x Frequency

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Range
 General Rule-
 Leave at least 1 us before LW
 Leave 1 us after mode-converted back wall

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Digitization Frequency
 Higher = better if
possible
 Absolute minimum 2x
Frequency (10mhz
x2=20mhz)

 Ideal minimum 5x
frequency (10 MHz x 5
= 50 MHz)
 100 MHz if possible
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PRF
 Look for ghost echoes
 Look at trace before
lateral wave, should be
flat or near flat or prf
may be to high
 On Omniscan-optimum
is usually adequate

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Sampling interval/Encoder Resolution
 1mm typical- 2 or 3mm to reduce data file
sizes if necessary for long scans

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Averaging
 32 maximum realistic
value
 8 or 16 usually better
 Averaging can
increase SNR

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Pulse Width
 General Rule- LW = 1
½ cycles, maximum 2

 On OmniScan,
optimum is usually
adequate
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Sensitivity/gain
 General rules
 LW to 20- 50% FSH
 Back wall to 100% FSH +10db

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Using Calibration Block
 Using series of thin slots and setting response
from bottom (BS 7706) Slot must be upper surface
breaking- signal from top largely reflected, while
bottom gives response similar to fatigue crack.
Slots often 1/3 and 2/3 T. Block should be similar
material and T.
 Using slots at varying depths covering material T.
Gain set on deepest slot so signal is 60% FSH.
 ASME-SDH

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Using grass/noise
 Setting gain on calibration block, then
increasing gain until noise is 5% FSH in
between LW and BW.

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Velocity and Wedge Delay Calibration
 Unlike most UT inspections, the calibration
of velocity and wedge delay are performed
after acquisition.
 Normally carried out by telling the inspection
system three things

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Reference Good A-scan
 Cursor positioned in
area free of flaws for
reference LW and BW.

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Input Test Parameters

1.PCS
2.Thickness
3.Geometry

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 Input and Train Top and Bottom
Many conventions- key is consistency!
One popular method is to use first pos. peak of lateral wave and
first neg. peak of long. BW

ref. cursor positioned on first

software told this is 0 or Top

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Input and Train Top and Bottom

Measure cursor positioned at neg.

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Calibration performed

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No Signal?
 Check gain
 Check couplant in and under shoes
 Check Cables-undamaged, connected
correctly
 Check orientation- wedges facing each
other
 Check flaw detector circuits
 Check preamp (if used)- make sure on and
connected correctly-check battery
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