ULTRASONIC TESTING - UT EQUIPMENT

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 Structure of UT Machine
FLOW DIAGRAM OF A TYPICAL A-SCAN FLAW DETECTOR

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 PULSE GENERATOR

Pulse Generator (Timer or Clock) gives out a number of

electrical pulses every second.

The pulse generator sends the pulse to the Time Base

Generator on the CRT and to the Pulse Transmitter
simultaneously.

These electric signal frequencies are called the Pulse

Repetition Rate or Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF)

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 TIME BASE GENERATOR

The Time base generator or sweep generator, upon receiving

the electrical signal from the pulse generator, controls the
voltage or charge on the X-plates causing the electron beam in
the CRT to sweep across the screen in a linear motion.

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 PULSE TRANSMITTER

Simultaneously the pulse transmitter or pulser circuit sends an

electric voltage (1OO - 700 volts) down the co-axial cable to
activate the probe

The probe or search unit, converts the electrical energy, sent by

the pulse transmitter, into pulses of ultrasound by means of a
peizo electric crystal (Tx).

The returning ultrasound from the test material is converted

back into electrical energy by the probe (Rx) and sent to the
amplifier.

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 RECEIVER AMPLIFIER

The receiver amplifier circuit accepts and amplifies the incoming

electrical pulses.

The amplification required is about 10,000 to 100,000 times and

the output must be linear with the input.

The amplifier must also be capable of accepting a range of

different frequency signals to accommodate the range of probe
frequencies used.

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 BROADBAND AMPLIFIER

Broad band amplifiers accept a very wide array of frequencies

producing an accurate representation of signal shape.

This enhances defect interpretation (type) but the signal to

noise ratio will be poor, so defect detection may be adversely
affected i.e. reduction in sensitivity, because of high noise (or
grass) levels.

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 NARROW BAND AMPLIFIER

Narrow band amplifiers, suppress the parts of the signal that

are outside the frequency band that it operates at.

This creates a cleaner signal, which means that the gain

(amplification) can be increased which in turn enhances defect
detectability (sensitivity).

The disadvantage of this is that the altered shape of the signal

means that defect interpretation is more difficult.

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The Attenuator or gain control reduces the amplification from
the amplifier by controlling the voltage or charge on the Y-
plates in the CRT which will control signal heights, bringing
them down to a readable level.

Suppression or reject reduces the grass or noise level on the

display by effectively raising the time base, but it destroys
amplifier linearity.

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CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT)

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 Flaw Detector Controls

1. Range Control – to set the range

2. Zero (delay) control – it allows synchronization to material

zero

3. Gain Control – to increase or decrease dB

4. Suppression (reject) control – to deduct some of the

amplification

5. PRF – Pulse repetition frequency

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 COUPLANT

A couplant is a material (usually liquid) that facilitates the

transmission of ultrasonic energy from the transducer into the test
specimen.

Couplant is generally necessary because the acoustic impedance

mismatch between air and solids (i.e. such as the test specimen) is
large. Therefore, nearly all of the energy is reflected and very little is
transmitted into the test material.

The couplant displaces the air and makes it possible to get more
sound energy into the test specimen so that a usable ultrasonic signal
can be obtained.

In contact ultrasonic testing a thin film of oil, glycerin or water is

generally used between theBSStransducer and the test surface.
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