Ultrasonic Testing (UT) including Phased Array (PAUT)

Ultrasonic Testing (UT) uses an instrument that generates a high frequency beam of sound to detect, characterize, and accurately size subsurface discontinuities.

A phased array probe is made up of multi-element ultrasonic transducers. Using this technique the ultrasonic beam can be focused to a specific angle distance inside the examined object. The inspection data can then be saved so it can be compared for future reference and inspections.

Ultrasound can be used on a wide variety of materials.  It is a highly sensitive test that can be used to detect cracks, lack of fusion, laminations, porosity, inclusions, voids and geometric conditions. It can also be used to measure the thickness of a material with an accuracy of .001”. A common application of ultrasonic thickness measurement is to monitor corrosion and erosion of pipes and vessel walls.

Our modern UT instruments are enabled for signal processing, precise measuring and flaw evaluation to an acceptance criteria using updated documentation software.

North Star Inspection specializes in the use of phased array UT technology useful to the oil and gas, power generation industries as well as construction of new piping, pipelines, vessels, raw materials, machined parts, structural welded members and a variety of components providing excellent Quality Assurance.  When quick and accurate inspections data is needed due to time constraints during outages this is a proven technique.