On-Line Phased-Array Ultrasonic System: OPUS to Control Pressure Sheath of Flexible Pipe During Manufacturing

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mickaël Mélot ◽  
Julien Berthon
Keyword(s):  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Waves ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Operation Condition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Flexible Pipes ◽  
Internal Fluid ◽  
Ultrasonic Phased Array ◽  
On Line

Flexible pipes are made up of several different layers specifically designed to meet the requirements of our clients and API17J / ISO13628-2. In the pursuit of ever more efficient and reliable solutions, even in the world’s harshest and deepest offshore environments, TECHNIP’s R&D activity is focused on extending its product range by introducing new products and materials. As part of this innovation program, new polymers are constantly being investigated to assess their potential as a pressure sheath. The pressure sheath is the most critical thermoplastic sheath within the structure. Its role is to contain internal fluid and transfer internal pressure to the pressure vault layer outside it. To fulfill that mission, this polymer must be leakproof and perform over wide temperature and pressure range. In operation condition, the presence of small flaws within the pressure sheath could propagate leading to failure and significant environmental and operational damages. Therefore, the manufacturing of such a polymer layer must conform with ever-higher levels of reliability and quality. This is the reason why a visual inspection of pressure sheath according to API17J / ISO13628-2 standards is mandatory. As a leitmotiv, TECHNIP dedicates a lot of effort, not only to extend the limits of the possible by introducing new materials, but also to take inspection further beyond standard requirements by developing dedicated on-line NDT control systems able to ensure layer high quality. Many people are familiar with the medical applications of ultrasonic imaging in which ultrasonic waves are used to create highly detailed cross-sectional pictures of internal organ. Medical echography is commonly performed with specialized multielement probe known as phased-array and their accompanying hardware and software. The applications of ultrasonic phased-array technology are not limited to medical diagnosis and in recent years, increasing use of these systems can be observed in industrial environment. Nevertheless, although phased-array systems on the market can provide new levels of information and visualization, they are manually and locally operated and are inappropriate to control polymer sheath over several kilometers during manufacturing. This paper presents a specific and automated ultrasonic system dedicated to manufacturing control of thermoplastics such as the pressure sheath. Developed by TECHNIP, and based on cutting edge ultrasonic technology used in aerospace and medicine, OPUS is a world-class NDT system able to prove that our pressure sheaths meet design criteria and achieve the highest quality level.

Calibrating and Cross-Sectional Equalizing of the Sensitivity of Ultrasonic Phased Array Inspection of Welds

NDT World ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
Нурматов ◽  
Islam Nurmatov ◽  
Лапидус ◽  
Aleks Lapidus ◽  
Пасси ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Flaw Detector ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Flat Bottom ◽  
Entire Cross Section ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Common Reference ◽  
Amplitude Correction ◽  
Ultrasonic Phased Array

Introduction. The approach and practical implementation for the sensitivity calibration and its equalizing within entire insonified cross-section of the material have been presented in the article for 3 most common reference artificial reflectors, namely the flat bottom hole (FBH) situated at parallel to the weld bevel plane, the EDM notch (N), and the side drilled hole (SDH). The method. The issue of inhomogeneous sensitivity over cross-section covered through phased array (PA) sectorial scan plan is due to several factors, which are highlighted and explained. 5 of them are independent on the reference reflector’s shape. In addition the FBH and N reference reflectors are characterized by the strong dependency of the echo amplitude on the angle, under which the ultrasonic wave hits their surface (factor 6, which differs the FBH and N from the omnidirectional SDH). The approach for equalizing the sensitivity over sectorial-scan-insonified cross-section of the material for all types of reference reflectors has been proposed and explained. It is based on the ability of ultrasonic PA flaw detector to implement each pulsing-receiving cycle among the plurality of the scan-plan-forming set of focal laws with individually and independently settled gain and other key settings including Distance Amplitude Correction / Time Corrected Gain (DAC / TCG). The Sonotron NDT’s ISONIC Series PA instruments (ISONIC 3510, ISONIC 2010, and ISONIC 2009 UPA Scope) are featured with the said ability uniquely: in the said units the DAC / TCG mechanism is used purely for compensating the dependency of echo amplitude on the material travel distance while the feature of varying Gain per Focal Law is utilized just for the forming of easy-reproducible Angle Gain Compensation (AGC) plan. Both the DAC / TCG and AGC plans are created independently on each other with use of the same reference reflectors. The results. Combining of the independent DAC / TCG and AGC mechanisms for the first time ever provides the equalizing of the sensitivity for all types of reference reflectors independently on their X, Y position over the entire cross-section of the material — this is confirmed by a number of experimental results presented. Conclusion. At last the single group sectorial scan only becomes sufficient for the complete coverage of the whole cross-section of the weld. This allows reducing the dimensions of required PA probes and wedges in use and the width of the area for the scanning along the fusion line. And finally this increases the maximal possible speed of scanning along with reducing of the inspection cost.

scholarly journals Application of Dual Focused Ultrasonic Phased Array Transducer in Two Orthogonal Cross-Sections for Inspection of Multi-Layered Composite Components of the Aircraft Fuselage

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renaldas Raišutis ◽  
Olgirdas Tumšys
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Complex Geometry ◽  
Ultrasonic Waves ◽  
Internal Defect ◽  
Flat Bottom ◽  
Aircraft Fuselage ◽  
Array Transducer ◽  
Ultrasonic Phased Array

Our previous studies have shown that the application of the proposed technique of a dual focused ultrasonic beam in two orthogonal cross-sections in passive (elevation) and active (azimuth) apertures of linear ultrasonic phased array transducer (ULPAT) enhances the 3D spatial resolution in the case of the inspection of conventional defects (flat bottom holes) or measurement of thickness of multi-layered metal composites. The objective of this work is to apply the proposed technique to enhance the spatial resolution of the ULPAT in the cases of detection and sizing demonstration of internal defects possessing spatially complex geometry, and during the inspection of defective multi-layered thin composite components (e.g., GLARE) of the aircraft fuselage. The specially prepared aluminium specimen possessing an internal defect of complicated geometry (crescent-shaped) was investigated. The simulation results and experiments demonstrate the resolution enhancement, higher amplitude of the reflections (e.g., 2.5 times or +8 dB) and spatial improvement in the defect detection even in the case of the non-perpendicular incidence of ultrasonic waves to the complex geometry surface of the internal defect. During the experiments, the multi-layered GFRP-metal based composite sample GLARE 3-3/2 was investigated in the case of the single-side access to the surface of the sample. The internal artificial delamination type defect of 25 mm was detected with a higher accuracy. Compared to the limitations of conventional ULPAT, the relative error (32%) (at the −6 dB level) of lateral defect dimensions estimation was completely reduced.

Cross-Sectional Design and Case Study for Flexible Pipe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Zuo ◽  
Liaqat Ali ◽  
Yong Bai
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
Production Cost ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mechanical Responses ◽  
Flexible Pipes ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Abstract Flexible pipes are compounded by many concentric layers, with different structural and operational functions. These layers are usually made of distinct materials, including metal and plastic. To accurately meet the working requirements of the pipes and reduce its production cost, the primary purpose of this paper is to present the cross-sectional design procedure and the case study for a specific unbonded flexible pipe is also illustrated. In this paper, the mathematical analysis and finite element analysis are employed to study the properties of pipe under different working conditions. A theoretical model for stresses and deformations of the pipe have been studied, and the obtained results have been compared with the ones from the FEM which is used to simulate the pipe under different working conditions. Additionally, the several models will be developed to study mechanical responses of pipes subjected to several loads. The results and FEA models can be useful for the designing structure of flexible pipes.

scholarly journals Analysis of Flaw Detection Sensitivity of Phased Array Ultrasonics in Austenitic Steel Welds According to Inspection Conditions

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 242
Author(s):  
YoungLae Kim ◽  
Sungjong Cho ◽  
Ik Keun Park
Keyword(s):  
Austenitic Steel ◽  
Simulation Modeling ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Flaw Detection ◽  
Wave Mode ◽  
Ultrasonic Waves ◽  
Detection Sensitivity ◽  
Flaw Sensitivity ◽  
Steel Welds

The anisotropy and inhomogeneity exhibited by austenitic steel in welds poses a challenge to nondestructive testing employing ultrasonic waves, which is predominantly utilized for the inspection of welds in power plants. In this study, we assess the reliability of phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) by analyzing the flaw detection sensitivity of ultrasonic beams in anisotropic welds, based on the inspection conditions. First, we simulated the sectorial scan technique, frequently employed for the inspection of actual welds, while taking into account the ultrasonic wave mode, frequency, and shape and position of a flaw. Subsequently, we analyzed the flaw sensitivity by comparing A-scan signals and S-scan results. The sensitivity analysis results confirmed the detection of all flaws by considering at least two inspection methods based on the shape and position of the flaw. Furthermore, we verified our model by performing an experiment under the same conditions as the simulation and found that the results were in agreement. Hence, we find that the simulation modeling technique proposed in this study can be utilized to develop suitable inspection conditions, according to the flaw characteristics or inspection environment.

Real-Time 3D Imaging using an Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Phased-Array

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianni Allevato ◽  
Jan Hinrichs ◽  
Matthias Rutsch ◽  
Jan Adler ◽  
Axel Jager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
3D Imaging ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Phased Array

scholarly journals Burst pressure prediction of fiber-reinforced flexible pipes with arbitrary generatrix

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 155892502199081
Author(s):  
Guo-min Xu ◽  
Chang-geng Shuai
Keyword(s):  
Transfer Matrix ◽  
Linear Equations ◽  
Burst Pressure ◽  
Fiber Reinforced ◽  
Flexible Pipe ◽  
Theoretical Derivation ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
Flexible Pipes ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Winding Angle

Fiber-reinforced flexible pipes are widely used to transport the fluid at locations requiring flexible connection in pipeline systems. It is important to predict the burst pressure to guarantee the reliability of the flexible pipes. Based on the composite shell theory and the transfer-matrix method, the burst pressure of flexible pipes with arbitrary generatrix under internal pressure is investigated. Firstly, a novel method is proposed to simplify the theoretical derivation of the transfer matrix by solving symbolic linear equations. The method is accurate and much faster than the manual derivation of the transfer matrix. The anisotropy dependency on the circumferential radius of the pipe is considered in the theoretical approach, along with the nonlinear stretch of the unidirectional fabric in the reinforced layer. Secondly, the burst pressure is predicted with the Tsai-Hill failure criterion and verified by burst tests of six different prototypes of the flexible pipe. It is found that the burst pressure is increased significantly with an optimal winding angle of the unidirectional fabric. The optimal result is determined by the geometric parameters of the pipe. The investigation method and results presented in this paper will guide the design and optimization of novel fiber-reinforced flexible pipes.

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