Ultrasonics

715 Words2 Pages

Ultrasonic testing (UT) is considered as one of the modern technology that would allow engineering constructions and solid materials to be checked and detect internal faults while keeping structures intact and undamaged. Ultrasonics use acoustic waves to disseminate through the material to test and detect any irregularity. Such irregularities are discontinuities (type and location), the material’s grain structure, thickness, internal corrosion etc. Ultrasonic testing can be used on a wide variety of plastics, composites, ceramics and metals but cannot be used on wood and paper products. Other limitations include the material’s shape, its surface, its orientation when testing and the device must be able to test the material with ease. This new age technology is known as non-destructive testing (NDT) as waves penetrate the material without damaging the original structure. UT device would consist of a receiver, transducer and a monitor where the transducer would generate high frequency sound waves which would propagate through the material being tested; these sound waves are generated higher than the human hearing capability. The waves would travel through and when it faces a discontinuity, a portion of the wave would be reflected back and then converted to an electrical signal where the monitor can display the result. Ultrasonic is based on acoustics which is focused on the unidirectional movement of the atoms which in turn generates a mechanical wave which will be homogenous throughout. The frequencies of the waves used are usually high which means the wavelengths are much shorter and more responsive therefore changes of mediums in the material can easily be detected. UT detects flaws in the material, flaws which may cause th... ... middle of paper ... ...solutions/introductory-ultrasonics/introduction-material-analysis/ > 2010. "Ultrasonic Testing FAQ". Olympus. April 15, 2010 Berke, M. 2000. "Nondestructive Material Testing with Ultrasonics ". NDT.net. April 15, 2010 < http://www.ndt.net/article/v05n09/berke/berke1.htm#0 > "Introduction to Ultrasonic Testing". NDT Resource Center. April 15, 2010 < http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Ultrasonics/cc_ut_index.htm > Singha, Rajib . 2010. "Ultrasonic Testing - Ultrasonic Inspection Equipments". Buzzle.com. April 15, 2010 Tietz, May, Dietz, Bühling, 1997. "Ultrasonic testing of green ceramic materials". NDT.net. April 15, 2010

Open Document