Steel thickness testing by phased array ultrasonic

Abstract

This project is on the research into the currently available phased array ultrasonic testing technology. We will look into the important step-by-step procedures to calibrate one phased array ultrasonic instrument, located at Nanyang Technological University Aerospace laboratory. Phased array ultrasonic testing is a relatively new technology and it has a list of very complicated procedures to calibrate it. I would like future operators of that phased array ultrasonic instrument to be able to have an easy job and therefore, a simplified list of procedures for calibrating a phased array ultrasonic instrument is created and that phased array ultrasonic instrument is calibrated according to that list of procedures. That list of procedures will hopefully be part of a simple instruction manual for future undergraduate students to refer when operating that machine. The thickness of a steel specimen is determined by using that phased array ultrasonic instrument. Since steel is an important material used in building aircrafts, investigation into whether phased array ultrasonic testing is an accurate technique to determine the thickness of steel specimen is being conducted. The absolute error with respect to the thickness of the steel will be analysed.