Ultrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No: 1.0 What time intervals there between samples when operating at a Ghisaton rat of 33? Y38 * 0.0805 ug 2.0 Explain with the aid of a sketch the difference between a swept angle and a linear angle scan: Soe ptengle « sectoral guan Lettre element byl lke Se 3.0. Identify factors that would contribute to ines of missed data ona! Scadd “SS Wma Lou PEF, High Son fpr ride swepl angle be0f pepe, faye 98 of AS04015, thy peolelin we fea enters esp le TOE BN eed Oe yyy 4.0 What are high and low pass fiters and which of the two would restrict the beam spread recorded? p54 129/50 °*%, fiffers 0 Leeg wane [nose far Gebiy . bamgpn eC CMe 098 Cog Aish than 056 igh Hee ved cect bape Spread ag Imaee Looquen reve gee fear lea gk 5.0 Calculate the driver voltage pulse duration required to obtain maximum, amplitude from a 10 MHz transducer. Ins [ima Carney x Ip Labs/idaie = 04KS $00.5 05 of 8O0n5- 50 ng 208 tho Ho avon teens MOT wo20131.0 20 3.0 Ultrasonic Phased Arrays [Narrative Training Questions No:1 Answers What time interval is there between samples when operating at a digitisation rate of 33 MHz? us/sampling rate = time interval between samples 15/33 = 0.03, Explain with the aid of a sketch the difference between a swept angle and a linear angle scan: ‘Swvept angle or sectorial scan uses an incremented change in focal law angle to produce a fanlike image comprising of numerous angular data collections. Typical application is sweeping through a range of angles to image geometrical profiles typified by turbine disc roots. Linear angle scans electronically excite the array to produce one angle across 2 defined distance. This distance fs limited to the physical ‘number of elements in the array. Typical application Is interrogation of weld fusion faces. Identity factors that would contribute to lines of missed data on a °C" Scan image, Use of averaging High scan speed Large swept angles Small increments between swept or linear angles Very high digitisation rates Long ranges gated resulting in large data quantities to be collected Slow com speeds when using remote units40 5.0 What are high and low pass filters and which of the two would restrict the beam spread recorded? High pass filter allows frequencies higher than the set value to be seen whilst blocking out the lower frequencies. Low pass filter allows frequencies lower than the set value to be seen whilst blocking out higher frequencies. High pass filter if set to high will cut out lower frequencies that produce extended beam spreads. Calculate the driver voltage pulse duration required to obtain maximum amplitude from a 10 Miz transducer, ‘Synchronisation of the square wave pulse excitation should be set to hala period (haf a wave cyce). Ye petiod = 1us/array frequency Therefore 1/10 = 0.1ys or 100ns Half of this equates to 0.05ps or 50ns10 20 30 49 Uitrasonic Phased Arrays jarative Training Quest i Calculate the following dimensions for this linear array: Frequency 7Miz No. of exited elements: 128 Pitch between elements: mm Velocity of test material: .9mmjs ‘Active Aperture: 128mm Passive aperture: 12mm 05 for 668 Limit of focus depth: we = Crier Rey 3371 With of beam at focus F (use thei focal stance frm the above laulation): d= 222 a8" eV, 65 ak BHI. 9 0 Ae 3 ‘Angular beam spread at -648 in te active aperture forthe far fel: sin 05.4 > OnfB Ra (CC gil 05 7 oft ak Fin ~ 010093 “Angular beam spread at -6d8 for the passive aperture in the far feds inf 02, 0812 ald a 66095 13 206: Ur nate ae ae nia NET ora5.0. Recalculate the above fexcing only 32 elements we = (3a 12) [iat m\ AsNre - om nu341 E eyo10 20 3.0 Ultrasonic Phased Arrays ‘Narrative Training Questions No:2 Calculate the following dimensions for this linear array: Frequency 7MHz No. of elements: 128 Pitch between elements: 1mm. Velocity of test material: 5.91mimys Passive aperture: 12mm 0.5 for -6dB, ‘Limit of focus depth: N= Aya N = (428 x12)((4 x(5.9/7)) = 1536 / 3.37 N= 455mm. ‘Width of beam at focus F: Dy = 2.F/A, Dy = (5.9/7) x 455 / 128 Dy = 2.99mm ‘Angular beam spread at -6dB in the active aperture for the fer field: Sin 8 = 0.5/8 Sin 9 = 0.5 (5.9/7)/128 Sin 9 = 0.00329 9 = 0.188"40 50 Sa 52 53 4 ‘Angular beam spread at ~6dB for the passive aperture in the far field sin 0.5 4/A Sin 9 = 0.5 (5.9/7)/12 Sin 9 = 0.035 95 20° Recalculate the above if exciting only 32 elements. Limit of focus depth: N= AyAL N= (32x 12)/ (4 (5.9/7)) = 384/3.37 N= 139mm Width of beam at focus F: Da = AFA Da = ((5:9/7) x 113.9)/32 Da = 3.0mm ‘Angular beam spread at -6dB in the active aperture forthe far field: Sin 9 = 0.5 2/ Sin 8 = 0.5 (5.9/7)/32 Sin 8 = 0.013 9 = 075° ‘Beam spread in passive axis remains the sametUltrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No:3 1.0 plan whats meant by the tems passive and ative apertures, fulixe perv Nb caleetled Me Olemont x the SME ic probe AW based en the olen lobes? Greeler cepawlter af eleme rragntivde of yeding 1 Also tf gresier t ee cane ae ee os ahyg 3.0 Draw and label essential variables needed by the PA instrument software to generate appropriate focal laws when using an angled wedge. gee py kof CO Element delay sais” 4 pie love end (detva) ~Velert TL Guee ote le Focused dap ih, 4.0 Explain why use of averaging fs not a good ide for phased array applications. sien itrantly edvens cean spead avd cenenases Bie gine deamakirally all asteagleg - YL A saonz do giodrse tounare t ee eee eee iui Bk pales fa prodvce Uaweee 5:0 Theoreticaly what isthe adltional Boni of using a 20 array a5 ‘opposed to a 1D array? Id serps aller Lewstey and slemiay of Hoa ulbraconie Bear in theee dmene1.0 20 3.0 Utrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No:3 Answers Explain what is meant by the terms passive and active apertures Passive aperture is the axis of an array that cannot be steered (this is, sometimes called the height of the array). Active aperture isthe length of excited elements within an array, this can be the maximum number of elements in the array or maximum ‘number excitable due to the PA instrument hardware design. Smaller active apertures can be selected by excting less elements, What array parameters dictate the location and magnitude of grating lobes? Frequency, material velocity, element size and pitch between elements. Golden rule is to try and select an array with element size less than haif a wavelength thus avoiding grating lobes. Draw and label essential variables needed by the PA instrument software to generate appropriate focal laws when using an angled wedge, Wedge variables: Wedge parameters * Velocity in wedge (vw) + Wedge angle (o) * Height fist element (ht) + Offset first element (x1)3.0 conta, 40 5.0 ‘Additional variables: Orientation of the array on the wedge First element to be excited Number of elements being excited Minimum and maximum angles to be generated Increment of change between angies Depth of focus Explain why use of averaging Is not a good idea for phased array applications Each incremental position within a beam is generated by one focal law. For a scan between 30 and 70 degrees at 1 degree increments would need 40 focal laws and each focal law is triggered by a successive pulse generated from the instrument pulser. If you were to collect one swept angle scan per mm at a travel speed ‘of 100mm/sec then the pulser would need to run at 4000 pulses per second. Using an averaging value of 8 the pulser would then have to run at 8 times 4000 pulses per second = 32000 pulses per second which is not possible! ‘Theoretically what is the addtional benefit of using a 2D array as ‘opposed to a 10 array? 2D arrays offer the potential to steer the beam in 2 dimensional axes thus allowing beams to be focussed in two active planes as opposed to only one active plane in the 1D array design. However these arrays are not common, are very expensive and can nly be used on top of the range instruments with very powerful computers.1.0 20 30 50 Urasonic Phased Arrays Traini No: Explain what is meant by the terms swept angle, sectorial and azimuthar’ scan. ithe capabshily fo Seam a cometaba iran) cngles without any pores MN sigleh are umd Gow. ha ‘Summarise the compromising Issues of the ideal array to obtain long range focussing. ferye aries, Sud coolly, Abr/ity to ect mare. than J6 elements not read h avadlaBle, Gyan eles a tereneerl peas Explain the principle of Dynamic Depth Focussing, Mherninl rary Ynctenee se rciftuly be" padher ‘iewal vse Gllours ce-comergence af cebuecteg ot on digerent point, By! ave Using a sketch explain the C scan view imaged on the PA instrument In terms of how itis formed and what the view represents. L E many gag color bre { Shiw atewth. Pl / | wae ey Mme! Cog iy dows How deste sanpng ae ota compiession ts compromise your messurement capobilty? Foot pimplf = gover cesolad ton, highs of dete Louw ae taken, Signals mene old a injerpred10 20 Lavender International NOT Ultrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No: Explain what is meant by the terms ‘swept angle, sectorial and azimuthal’ scan, Effectively these are all terms relating to the same scan type. A set of focal las yenerales incremental angular Gietye from une Uisurele angular location through to another predetermined angular position, ‘Summarise the compromising issues of the ideal array to obtain long range focussing. Long distance focussing is achieved by large apertures and high frequency transducers. Limit focal range is expressed by the near field formula which is summarised as follows: Double the aperture = quadruple focal distance Double the frequency = double the focus Large apertures can be achieved by large element width, large element pitch & large number of elements. Compromises to this idea! High frequency results in large losses due to attenuation thus poor penetrating capability Large elements resulting in large element pitch values above Ye 2 results in generation of undesirable grating lobes Large numiber of elements can typically exceed the excitation capability Of the PA instrumentLavender International NOT 3,0 Explain the principle of Dynamic Depth Focussing DF is a hardware tool applied to the focal law time delays of received energy re-entering the phased array module of the test instrument. DOF is adjusted in the Instrument software giving a range over which the returned pulses from different depths are re-converged to adjust the recelver focussing DDF does nul yererale @ nuiti-focus beam from the array the focal ‘spot is set at one depth only in the transmitter circuit. Example ‘of DDF Improving resolution 4.0 Using a sketch explain the C scan view imaged on the PA instrument in terms of how itis formed and what the view represents.Lavender International NDT C scan images produced on the phased array instrument display are projections of ultrasonic data viewed as a summary own the ultrasonic ‘beam comprising of all the angular increments from a sectorial sean or the excited aperture of a linear angled scan, Importing this data into computer software such as Tomoview can Correct this data into volumetric corrected format resulting in a true plan view C scan, 5.0 How does the sampling rate or data compression rate compromise your measurement capability? Data collected in the RD Tech Omniscan is digitised at L0OMHz and then compressed by minimising points of measurement along the igitised waveform. This effectively reduces the potential of precision by limiting possible measurement points in the stored data when viewed in the analysis software. ‘Another way of controlling data file size is the method used in the TD Focus system. The software sampling controls how many points are ‘sampled during the analogue to digital conversion. With this technique the danger is that selection of to low a sampling rate may generate oor quality digital waveforms, Both methods of digitisation have the potential to collect high precision data however both systems of digitisation can result in degraded precision due to restricted point for measurement when conducting offine analysis,1.0 20 30 40 5.0 Utrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions Noss Explain why the use of fewer elements when focussing in the shorter ranges may be more beneficial than focussing using all of the array. elements. Feuer elernents alisas Or boher heaving cagntiiied, thereldce grag baller Bost sand vote tach Dyer aca Crom cenlte, al deer Jembenoigh bo etn ree defict, lular , Berm aptenh of 2lemends a nae Discuss the design issues required to be considered when selecting an array wth optim stering capably. seed pill, and small timer gee, Depending ce Gevting Depth cequiced dan be ob teshive, 1 thegee Jarne foe \When designing @ weld inspection using phased arrays what essential considerations need addressing? ewald ecee ~type afimaledal nadkeriad Hyleleness — eysheete = welding process Beas Hepth Be nsitivety |What sing tecHniques are available for phased array data analysis, ‘and which sizing method would be sultable to measure precisely a multifaceted crack? Hp dled on may emphtud: Vi f yan wmphtnde Gig dol chiny bes! odiltred Be creck 3 ining ‘What would be the largest angular increment of sweep to ensure no response Is less than -6dB from an equal sized reflector when the beam width is measure as 2mm for the 6dB down point at 120mm _ beam path? SOH CAH JOA Sind = 2° i ie , ara me 204%10 20 Lavender International NOT Utrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No:5 Explain why the use of fewer elements when focussing in the shorter ranges may be more beneficial than focussing using all of the array elements. Large array apertures used when fucussiny at stort ranges require extreme steering capabilities form the outer elements Usually this is not practical resulting in poor resolution due to interference from destructive wave fonts compromising the focussed constructive wave fronts, Illustration shows outer element beam spread not wide enough to facilitate beam steering to focus on the target Discuss the design issues required to be considered when selecting an array with optimum steering capability. Large steering capability results from wide beam spread angles ‘emanating from each individual element. Basic ultrasonic rules dictate that small element sizes, and low frequency transducers resulting large beam spread values. Inter element pitch being as small as practically reasonable alo assists in obtaining improved steering capability.30 40 50 Lavender International NOT \When designing a weld inspection using phased arrays what essential considerations need addressing? Welding process, material type, consumable type, joint configuration, repair history, service history, type of defects to be detected, size of defect to be detected, acceptance criteria, accessible faces to scan from, temperature of component to be Inspected, avaliable array and wedge sizes, PA instrument capability, avaiabilty of experienced operators? What sizing techniques are available for phased array data analysis, and which sizing method would be suitable to measure precisely a multifaceted crack? Amplitude sizing: 348 drop, 6d8 drop, Maximum amplitude. Timing sizing: Tip diffraction Qualitative sting: ID creep wave, Bi modal, High L wave ‘Most suitable fora clearly resolvable multi-faceted crack would be ‘maximum amplitude (sometimes ths is tip diffraction) ‘What would be the largest angular increment of sweep to ensure no response is less than -6d8 from an equal sized reflector when the beam width is measure as 2mm for the 648 down point at 120mm ‘beam path? Sin 91 = 1/120 = 0.008333 0.477 x07? 0.95"Lavender International NDT Utrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No:7 1.0 Calculate the effective limit of focus when using a 25mm thick parallel wedge connected to the folowing array: SMH 64 clement anay WF | Ache xP) Exciting 32 elements “te F Pitch 0.6mm | Element size: 0.5mm 19.2. 20 Passive aperture: 20mm = ‘Wedge velocity 2.33 mm/ys Ub x 0-466 42 x : LF 9496 Stee! velocity 5.96mm/us a 17 pe" 2906-2518 nast 2.0 Describe the principle of calibrating the sensitivity acrods the! bea. 3,0 Draw a linear angle, beam and label the VPA positions for the first and 40 5.0 Explain how you calibrate a wheel type encoder. Use a diagram to help ‘your explanation < Geb ng. $0 0,00mn JE od fo 300.00 1 Met, shark tecoker® 0 anh roll Corusnah To 3D. Ife Sudean “ee cvegtoble,10 2.0 Lavender International NOT Ultrasonic Phased Arrays Narrative Training Questions No:7 Calculate the effective limit of focus when using @ 25mm thick parallel wedge connected to the following array: ‘SMHz 64 element array Exciting 32 elements, lec: 0.61101 Element size: 0.5mm Passive aperture: 20mm Wedge velocity 2.33 mm/us Steel velocity 5.96mm/is Calculate the near field in wedge material Subtract wedge thickness from answer Calculate ratio of material velocities (wedge/test item) Multiply near field value minus wedge thickness by ratio of velocities to find effective near field distance in teat item NF in wedge material = ([32 x 0.6] x 20) + 4x (2.33 + 5) = 384 + 1.864 = 206mm 206mm - 25mm = 181mm Ratio of velocities = 2.33 + 5.96 39 181mm x 0.39 = 70,59mm effective near field (limit of focus) Des the principle of calibrating the sensitivity across the beam. ‘Swept angle scans and linear angle scans need calibrating to establish 2 uniform sensitivity across all ‘A’ scans that form the sectorial or linear Images. This is accomplished by training the instrument on one select ‘target hole from which the amplitude responce Is recorded during allbration as an echo-dynamic envelope. The PA instrument them adjusts each focal law gain setting within the PA module to achieve equal amplitudes of all focal lavs (‘A scans). Gain adjustment levels can be noted from the Omniscan when viewed in the following menu: UT settings _ Beam _ Gain offset Dragging the biue data cursor across different VPA's (virtual probe aperture) or swept angles reveals respective gain offset values used to Correct sensitivity across the beam.30 40 sequin Lavender International NDT Draw a linear angle beam and label the VPA positions for the first and last focal law. \VPA is the abbreviation for Virtual Probe Aperture ‘The location of each VPA number represents the ‘A’ scan position _gonerated from individual focal laws throughout linear electronic scans. E.g, exciting 16 active elements; the VPA or ‘A’ scan location will be |maged at a location equal to 8.5 times the element pitch value from the first active element position of any particular focal law. In essence 3 linear scan image is simply a stack of 'A’ scans. VPA 1 Draw a sectorial angle scan and label the following axis: Index axis Scan axis Utrasound axis, — Sound Path eprayoury > ven 20 aybuy Scan.axis..».Lavender International NOT 5.0 Esplin how you calibrate a wheel type encoder. Use a diagram to help Your explanation Caloraton is achieved by traning the instrument whilst moving an ETeGEr across a measured gauge length from one marked datum line {0 another. The minimum recommended distance between lives i 200mm (8 inch). During this process the PA instrument recurs the reine Of votage pulses per mm emitted by the encoder being Gallbrated, Typically this can be around 12 pulses per mm for tre irbus standard issue encoder and approximately 32 pulses per mm for Baumer encoders such as those used on Phoenix TOFD callpore ‘The sequence of calibration using an Omniscan Is as follows: {iz2rd Calibration _ Type (select - Encoder) _ Start. Origin (hold {re Gncoder firmly in postion at the frst marked ine) Next Distance (cet the distance value tothe distance between datum lines you have ag ne ress Calibrate Recheck the encoded stance by reversing ac to Your point of origin without iting the encoder off the mate fal Fens, Ht the reading is within +/- Imm then press the Accept key The encoder is now calibrated