Applications of Phased Array Techniques to NDT of Industrial Structures

In many industrial areas, such as nuclear, aircraft and oil industry, there is an increasing need for versatile Non Destructive Testing methods, able to ensure the reliab ility of complex structures. Ultrasonic (UPA) phased arrays have been widely studied for several years, sinc e they provide a powerful tool for improved adaptability to a wide range of applications. These phased a rrays rely on transducer splitted into an array of elements individually driven, which allows one to master the ultrasonic beam thanks to delay and amplitude laws. One advantage is the capability of phased array to i ncrease productivity of industrial application. A simple example of a thickness measurement will be developed in order to show how fast phased array can be compared to conventional techniques. One other advantage of pha sed array is their capability to overcome difficult geometrical problems thanks to their adaptability : electronic commutation, beam-steering and focusing in complex geometries. A specific flexible phased ar ray probe will be presented and applied on a nozzle inspection. This phased array is able to conform to a complex component, without degrading the radiated UT beam.