The RTD Group provides a comprehensive range of Non-Destructive Testing services for the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical industrial fields on a worldwide basis . We specialize in pipeline and high tech inspection services On & Off Shore.

RTD™ ultrasonic inspection

Ultrasound can be applied to detect cracks and planar internal defects and to measure wall thickness. In this method sound waves move through the inspected material. Normally they follow a straight line, but when they hit upon a defect, the sound waves are reflected. The operator of the inspection system can read the characteristics of the defect on a screen.

There are several refinements of the basic method, including Beetle, Phased Array, Mapscan, LORUS, Guided Waves and Time Of Flight Diffraction (TOFD).

By using ultrasonic inspection it is possible to determine wall thicknesses and to trace defects in material. The method uses the principle that materials with a structure that is not too coarse are good conductors of sound. As a result of the reflection of sound beams it is possible to trace defects in the materials, even at a long distance away from the surface of the material.

Application

Ultrasonic inspection has numerous application possibilities. Amongst other things, for example, ultrasonic inspection can be used for inspecting welds, for undertaking wall thickness measurements and for inspecting castings and forgings.

Results

This inspection method is carried out using mobile equipment. The path taken by the sound beam is displayed immediately on the screen, so that the inspection results are available immediately. The inspection data can also be displayed digitally. As standard, ultrasonic inspection can be carried out using transducers (probes) at various angles.

Specialized probes are required for specific applications and material types. These probes, with differing frequencies, wave modes and crystal sizes, are developed by RTD's Probe Manufacturing Departement. Ultrasonic inspection can be used on materials of virtually every shape and size. The method can therefore be used in the field or at (production) companies.

RTD supports a multitude of different flavours of ultrasonic inspection:

  • Corrosion mapping
  • Beetle
  • Phased Array
  • Mapscan
  • LORUS
  • Guided waves
  • TOFD
  • Rotoscan (AUT)
  • Pipeline Inspection Tool