Phased Array

Manual Sectorial Scans

OlympusNDT
Nick Bublitz
Introduction
‹ Intent—
To give brief overview of Phased Array
Sectorial scanning as it applies to the 1000i
instrumentation

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 What is Phased Array?
¾ Advanced Ultrasonic Industrial PA Medical PA
technique used for flaw
detection, sizing, and
imaging.
¾ Allows for electrical
manipulation of probe
characteristics by
introducing time shifts to
sent and received signals
¾ Utilizes multi-element
(array) probes for
increased capabilities over
conventional ultrasonics.

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 Advantages of Phased Array
Increased control of beam characteristics.
¾ Simultaneous inspection with multitude of
angles using one probe.
¾ Can better inspect complex geometries or
limited access areas.
¾ Detection and characterization of oriented
flaws
¾ Imaging

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Conventional Ultrasonics

¾Conventional ultrasonics
utilize a single piezoelectric
element.
¾A different probe, wedge, or
setup is needed for every
required angle of inspection.
¾Flaw detection and sizing
relies heavily on orientation of
flaw and operator manipulation
of the probe in manual
5 scanning.
Phased Array
Phased Array allows multiple
angles to be generated out of
The probe simultaneously.

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Phased Array probes
are comprised of
several elements.
Common configurations
are 16, 32, 64, and 128
element probes, but
probes with over 1000
elements have been created.
The specifications of the PA
unit determine what type of
probes the unit can utilize.
The 1000i will have specified
probes of 8 and 16 element
configurations.

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Phased Array Probe Configuration
‹ It is like having many small
conventional UT probes
integrated inside a single probe.

128 elements !

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 Phased Array Probes
¾ Each element is
individually wired,
allowing individual
delays to be applied to
each element-allowing
for beam steering and
focusing.

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 Phased Array Probes
¾ OlympusNDT PA
probes are made with
a Piezo-
Composite,thin rods of
ceramic material
embedded into a
polymer. With this
technology SNR are
typically 10-30 dB
greater than Piezo-
Ceramic probes.
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 Phased Array Probes
There are many different Y=8.0

types of array designs.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Y=1.9

4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32

3 7 11 15 19 23 27 31

2 6 10 14 18 22 26 30

X=-7.9, Y=-8.0 --> X=7.9

1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29

X=-3.9, Y=-1.9 --> X=3.9

Y=4.4

Y=6.5
16
47 46 15
14
48 45 13
12
30 29 11
10
49
31 28
44 9
8
17 16 7
6
50 32 27 43 5
18 15 4
8 7 3
2
51 33 19 9 3 2 6 14 26 42
1
1

52 34 20 10 4 5 13 25 41 61

11 12
53 35 21 24 40 60
22 23
36 39
54 59
37 38
55 58
56 57

X=-6.5, Y=-6.5 --> X=6.5

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X=-4.4, Y=-4.4 --> X=4.4
¾ The most common type is
the 1D Linear Array. These
make up 98% or better of
the PA probes we see.
¾ These are the only type of
probes that will be
supported/sold with the
1000i

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Dimensional Parameters

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Effect of Design

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How Does Phased Array Work?
‹ Elements are pulsed in
groups with
precalculated time
delays for each element
(i.e., “phasing”).
‹ Constructive or
destructive interference
allows for the
manipulation from
“normal”

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Phasing
Whenever waves originating from two or more
sources interact with each other, there will be
phasing effects leading to an increase or
decrease in wave energy at the point of
combination. When elastic waves of the same
frequency meet in such a way that their
displacements are precisely synchronized (in
phase, or 0 degree phase angle), the wave
energies will add together to create a larger
amplitude wave. If they meet in such a way that
their displacements are exactly opposite (180
degrees out of phase), then the wave energies
will cancel each other. At phase angles between
0 degrees and 180 degrees, there will be a
range of intermediate stages between full
addition and full cancellation. By varying the
timing of the waves from a large number of
sources, it is possible to use these effects to
both steer and focus the resulting combined
wave front. This is an essential principle behind
phased array testing.
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 Focal Laws
¾ Define the elements to be fired, time delays
applied, and voltages for pulsing and
reception.
¾ Allow for beam steering
¾ Allow for beam focusing
¾ Calculations done with software on board
the instrument
¾ Calculations called “Focal Laws”
¾ These files affect both pulsing and receiving
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Focal Laws- continued
‹ Each phased array unit has a maximum
number of focal laws it can handle based on
SW and Hardware limitations
‹ For a sectorial scan the number of focal
laws can be determined with the equation
Max angle- minimum angle + 1
EX- 35-70 degree with 1 degree steps
70-35+1 = 36 focal laws

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Modern software allows an
operator to input test parameters-
Material, wave type, desired
angles etc and all calculations
are done by the software. Probe
recognition and Wedge databases
further simplify setup.

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Summary of Beam Forming Types
‹ Using a single group of
elements, on the same probe,
different beam configurations
can be performed:

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Wave Modes

Longitudinal Waves

Shear Waves and Ref. L-waves

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Beam Focusing
‹ Provides the capability to converge the acoustic energy onto a small
focal spot.
‹ Allows for focusing at several depths, using a single probe.
‹ Applies a symmetrical (e.g., parabolic) focal law for a normal beam.
Phased array probe
Conventional UT probe
(simulating a conv. UT focused probe)
(Focused probe)

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 Beam Focusing
¾ Limited to the near
field.
¾ Can only be focused in
the steering plane with
a 1d linear probe.
Beam Width at focus
decreases as element
number increases

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Beam Focusing Beam Profiles

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Types of Focusing

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Near Field

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Beam Steering
‹ Provides the capability to modify the refracted angle of the beam
generated by the array probe.
‹ Allows for multiple angle inspections, using a single probe
‹ Applies symmetrical (e.g., linear) focal laws.
Phased array probe
Conventional UT probe (simulating a conv. UT angle beam probe)
(angle beam probe)

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 Beam Steering
Factor of width of
individual element in
an array
¾ The smaller the
element- The better
the steering
¾ Can be modified with
wedge

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How Phased Arrays Work - Beam Steering

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Beam Steering + Focusing
‹ By combining both steering and focusing focal laws (delay
applied to each element is in green), the focal point can be
angled.

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 Sectorial Scanning
‹ Sectorial scan

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Sectorial Scan
‹ The ability to scan a
complete sector of volume
without any probe
movement.
‹ Useful for inspection of
complex geometries, or
geometries with space
restrictions.
‹ Combines the advantages
of a wide beam and/or
multiple focused probes in
a single phased array
probe.

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 Sectorial Scan
¾ Allows for a “swept”
range of angles
¾ Allows for full volume
inspection without
probe movement.

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35
Sectorial Scans

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How a Sectorial Scan is Pulsed
‹ Ex: -15 to15 degree L-
wave scan 16 element
aperture, 1 degree
steps
‹ Pulse 1 – 16 elements
fire the -15 degree
beam
‹ Pulse 2- the same 16
elements fire the -14
degree beam
‹ etc

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Phased Array Unit Nomenclature
‹ Most phased array instruments have a
designation of two numbers xx:yy
‹ Example 16:16, 16:128, 32:128 etc
‹ The first number designates the number of
elements that can be fired in one pulse-
i.e..... virtual probe
‹ The second number designates the total
number of total elements/receiver paths
that can be used in a setup i.e. physical
probe
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Key Concept
‹ Phased arrays do not
change the physics of
ultrasound
‹ PA’s are merely a
method of generating
and receiving a signal

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Conventional UT A-Scan
‹ An A-scan is a simple RF
waveform representation
showing the time and amplitude
of an ultrasonic signal, as
commonly provided by
conventional ultrasonic flaw
detectors.
‹ An A-scan waveform represents
the reflections from one sound
beam position in the test piece.

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Color-Encoded A-Scan Signal
‹ Additional imaging capability is provided for the rectified A-scan signal
by color encoding the amplitude. This allows the representation of
various phased array views, which is to be explained in later slides.

83% = Red

50% = Green

20% = Blue

Color-encoded Ultrasonic path /

TOF
A-scan (beam)

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Imaging – Sectorial Scan
‹A typical Sectorial Scan sweeps through a range of
angles using the same elements.

4 4

3 3

2 2
Beams 1 1
Beams

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Imaging – Sectorial Scan
‹ Using a small angle step value, the sectorial scan
resolution can be precise.

Angle steps can be defined

Typically 1 degree steps is
Sufficient

For a 35-70 sectorial scan,

1 degree steps means every
Whole angle is selectable
Ex: 35,36,37 etc

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Effect of Angular Step
Typically decreasing element step will
Increase resolution of flaws

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 45
Each beam goes back to a single conventional A-Scan
Sectorial Imaging

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Effect of Aperture

Increasing aperture increases penetration as well as resolution

when focused,

The physics of an aperture can be related back to conventional

probe size theory
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Phased Array Instruments
Omniscan

Tomoscan Focus LT

1000i

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‹Manual Applications

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Weld Inspections
‹ Phased Arrays can
add many benefits to
traditional weld
inspection
‹ Speed, imaging, POD,
oriented flaws,
imaging, analysis

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51
Advanced Crack Sizing

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Surface Waves

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Bolts

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Erosion/Corrosion

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Road Arm

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Composite T

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 Root Crack Phased Array technique

Radiography

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 Porosity Phased Array technique

Radiography

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Radiography Inclusion Phased Array technique

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Radiography
Lack of Fusion
Phased Array technique

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Incomplete Root Penetration Phased Array technique
Radiography

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Scribe line
‹ Scribe line

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Landing Gear

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Calibrations
‹ To fulfill codes -
‹ must have full
sensitivity/wedge
delay/ TCG/DAC
across all angles
‹ Must be realistically
accomplished-
quick/easy
‹ With PAs SDH are
normally used
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Sensitivity Calibration Example

Before After

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69
Calibration is simple

All 3 cals_NEW.wmv

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Thank you!