Advanced imaging

techniques for linear

scanning defects
characterization
Presented by : Dominic Giguere
Co-Writers: Philippe Rioux, Francois Lachance and
Guillaume Duthu
Presentation Overview
• Reminder of basic concepts
• Details of new Sonatest feature
• Analysis of TFM results on standard blocks
• Real Crack Inspection Comparison
• Conclusion
 Founded in the UK in 1958

• 3rd largest manufacturer

UT - NDT equipment
• Simple to use, rugged
& portable instruments
• Offices
• Over 100 distributors network
• Service points on 5 continents

Simplicity | Capability | Reliability

 Full Matrix Capture (FMC)
• Full Matrix Capture is a technique whereby
every element is individually pulsed to
generate sound which is received on every
element including the transmitter.
• A-scans are recorded from every emitter-
receiver pair combination of elements in the
array resulting in an N x N matric dataset.
• Interest of FMC is in the post-processing
possibilities with the data since it contains all
the information in order to build a sectorial
scan, linear scan and ultimately a Totally
Focused Matrix. (TFM)
 Total Focusing Method (TFM)
• Imaging technique where a
reconstruction algorithm is applied to a
FMC dataset
• Region of Interest is discretized into a
grid of point
• Signal from all elements are summed
up at every point of the grid; every pixel
in the image is treated as a focal point.
• Coherent summation of echoes
maximizes amplitudes of any indication
• Procedure equivalent to focusing at
every point of the image in standard
Phased-Array
 Why Using FMC/TFM?
• Acquires all the data information in only one
acquisition cycle; gives enormous post-
processing possibilities
• Direct imaging of one large area in one probe
position with all reachable angles everywhere
• Optimal focusing and spatial resolution
everywhere
• Improved detection, sizing and resolution
compared to standard PA.
New from Sonatest: FMC & TFM capabilities

A. FMC recording using portable

instrument (veo+)
B. Transfer data to PC UTStudio
C. Compute TFM data
D. Measure - Analysis - Report
FMC Recording
• Combined with L-scan for better
acquisition
• Parameters adjustment specific to
FMC like auto-fit A-Scan
• Up to 20 FPS
• Small data file size that can be
converted to .CSV file for use in
third party software
TFM post-processing
• Data is transferred on PC via USB stick
or Ethernet
• FMC & TFM data viewable on the same
software
• Multi frame build capability
• Possible to make multiple images with
same data file
• TFM computation creates a “synthetic
A-Scans” from the FMC data
SYNTHETIC A-SCANS: Images having same properties as a standard PA L-Scan
inspection, they can be analysed with PA tools available in UTStudio software.
Available TFM parameters
Algorithm with Apodization
Produce a more realistic UT image
Apply the true energy profile for angled beams
Propagation modes:
• LL, LLL, LLLL
• TT, TTT,TTTT
• Converted modes: LT, LTL, LLT, LLT
Reject Level: 0, 6 and 12dB
Zone of Interest: Visible in the 3D view
Surface Distance (ZOI X)
Depth (ZOI Z)
2D resolution (0.1 mm x 0.1 mm minimum)
Measure & Analysis Tools
• Manual cursors & Extraction box
for zone discrimination
• Zoom & playback functionalities
• Versatile sizing tools
• Detailed annotation table
• Automated reporting
Results

• Detection capability
• Lateral Resolution improvements
• Effects of parameters on resulting images
• Real Crack Evaluation
Detection & Sizing Capability
Linear Scan PA
8E 16E 32E
• AWS resolution block
• 3x .0625" diameter SDH for
45° (vertically aligned)

• Upper hole looks bigger

than the other two:
impossible to size all holes
properly
Detection & Sizing Capability: TFM

TFM can detect and size properly all three holes

Less than 6dB difference in amplitude
Precise sizing with ±5% difference
Detection & Sizing Capability: TFM
More gain for FMC not equal to
more noise like the linear scan

Undesirable focusing effect with

linear scan; not with TFM

Linear scan properties affect

the results (sizing, POD), not
with TFM
Lateral Resolution: Linear Scan PA
Lateral Resolution: TFM
• Improved Spatial Resolution,
specially in probe axis:
Up to 3x more in this example
0.6mm pitch vs 0.2mm TFM Res.

• TFM not affected by the

acquisition parameters
 Effect of sub-sampling on sizing

1:1 1:2 1:8 1:16

 Sub-Sampling = removal of samples directly in raw A-Scans
 Ratio of 5:1 of acquisition frequency to probe frequency needs to be respected
 Optimized sub-sampling reduces considerably file size without any effects on sizing capability
 Effect of image resolution on sizing

0.1mm2 0.3mm2 0.5mm2 1mm2

 Nyquist theorem (0.3mm2) has same sizing capacity than smallest resolution (0.1mm2)
 For same image pixel dimensions, maximize region of interest size.
 Choice of image resolution for optimisation of your process
 Sizing improvement on real crack evaluation
 Combination of Linear scan
and TFM brings fast
detection with precise
sizing
 Saving of A-Scans offers
the possibility to do thru
time analysis and TFM
offers precise growing size Linear Scan Optimized
TFM
 Conclusion

• Improved sizing/resolution
• TFM not that much dependent on FMC parameters during acquisition
• One acquisition = Multiple TFM images
• Saving of raw A-Scans from FMC = Easy over time analysis
• Creation of synthetic A-Scans in TFM = Same measure & analysis
tools as standard PA
• With good FMC/TFM parameters: File size and computation time are
manageable
Special Thanks
• Philippe Rioux - Sonatest
for co-writing this paper
• François Lachance - Sonatest
for co-writing this paper
• Guillaume Duthu - Sonatest
who made all these imaging &
algorithms possible