What is Ultrasonic Flaw detector?

Industry Outlook Team | Tuesday, 19 April 2022

Ultrasonic testing for flaws in solid materials has already been in use for decades and the technology and instrumentation for this kind of flaw detection are only getting better. So, what is ultrasonic flow detection and what does it involve? What makes it so reliable as to be used in the most critical industries?

The advantages and applications of ultrasonic defect detection plus answers to the above questions are all explained in this article, read on, to get all the information you may need on this non-destructive test method.

What is ultrasonic flaw detector?

An ultrasonic flaw detector is an instrument that uses sound waves to detect material defects such as cracks and voids internally and externally. It uses high-frequency sound waves which move through the material in a uniform manner and will only be disrupted in the presence of a defect.

Applications of ultrasonic flaw detector

Ultrasonic flaw detectors are used in many services, processing, and manufacturing industries such as;

In aerospace industries. Ultrasonic flaw detection is used to check the quality of solid materials for airplane manufacture and maintenance. It is especially important to constantly check for defects to prevent serious aeronautical disasters and accidents.

Pipeline for oil and gas industries. The integrity of petrochemical pipelines and tanks has to be maintained as any leakages can be detrimental for both the industry and the environment.

Welding industries in inspection to ensure smooth and problem-free finishings

Infrastructure that uses metal structures such as bridges and railroads. Ultrasonic testing can be used in checking the reliability and safety of these infrastructures.

Advantages of ultrasonic flaw detector

Ultrasonic flaw detectors have been designed differently from any other testing instruments because of the high accuracy of the test results required. Some of the advantages of using an ultrasonic flaw detector for material quality testing are;

Can detect both internal and external defects. Sound waves used for ultrasonic detection are deep penetrating allowing the machine to determine both internal and external structural flaws.

Real-time results. Ultrasonic flaw detectors provide results immediately the detector is placed on the test material surface. A visual image of the interior is displayed on the instrument and decisions can be made immediately by technicians in case of a problem.

Accurate. Advanced and modern technology together with proper software is used in flaw detection for this instrument. The type of defect, shape, size, and position can be determined more accurately.

You only need to access one side of the test item. This means accurate tests can still be done on parts that are hidden or not easy to reach like in the aeronautical industry.

Portable. the ultrasonic flaw detector is a hand-held lightweight instrument which means it can be easily moved around during use. The importance of this is that the technicians cover more ground and are able to scan several points of a test item within a short time period.

No radiation hazard. Ultrasonic flaw detection and ultrasonic thickness gauge is a clean and safe method of material analysis, unlike radiography which is a health and environmental hazard.

Scans both thick and thin materials at the same rate. Sound waves from the instrument travel at the same speed no matter the size of the material being tested to give results at an effective rate.

Ultrasonic flaw detectors are versatile. Apart from the detection of material defects, it can also be used for thickness measurements in some industries.

Easy to use by a trained technician. Using the instrument requires little to no preparation of the item to be tested and the use of modern software makes using it a simple process.

Conclusion

Ultrasonic testing is a test method that is not destructive and uses high-frequency sound waves to detect structural problems like dents, leaks, and cracks on materials, especially in the welding industry. An Ultrasonic flaw detector is an easy-to-use and portable instrument used for this kind of testing.

NDT-KITS company, through their research and development and manufacturing departments, has developed first-class ultrasonic flaw detectors that are of unmatched quality and high accuracy for all your defect detection needs.