Modelling and characterisation ultrasonic phased array transducers for pipe inspections

Abstract Nuclear pipes require regular inspection to prevent critical damage and extend their safe working lifetime. Ultrasonic using phased array transducers is a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method used monitor the condition of pipes, providing internal integrity information multiple small transducer elements. This grants controllable ultrasonic beam that provides more detail than conventional single element transducer. paper presents hybrid simulation model characterise for pressure pipe inspections. The focuses on identifying defects surfaces, which have total propagation path lengths in order 170 ultrasound wavelengths. Simulating inspections with such large challenging due unreliable results from numerical dispersion errors finite models. presented here combines benefits modelling analytical extrapolation overcome issue distances. A practical experiment demonstrates verifies matches real world Inspection accuracy was quantified over frequency (5, 7.5 10 MHz) number elements (8, 16 32) inspect two defect shapes (rectangular V-shape). MHz showed highest resolution depth measurement, while 5 strongest penetration pipe's outer surface. largest aperture transducer, 32 elements, brought about most accurate size measurement. work serves inexpensively guide selection later deployment tools nuclear detection monitoring. • novel representing high produce high-resolution TFM images reactor pipes. Novel surface imaging algorithms measure width are validated examples. Quantification impact transducer's excitation accuracy.