High penetration / wide scan arrays

Applications

Automated high-performance inspection of submerged parts: metal plates, bars, pipes, composite materials, forged parts, etc.

Principle and Advantages

The scanned length (L) is maximised by combining a large number of elements (typically between 64 to 512) with the widest possible inter-element pitch (p).

Electronic focusing can be combined with scanning, for example, to inspect at different depths. In general, electronic deflection is little used for this type of application.

  • Inspection time is reduced through the high speed of the electronic scanning combined with a large scanning width.
  • The scanning mechanism is simplified.

General Characteristics

 Acoustic

  • Frequency from 500 kHz to 18 MHz
  • Unlimited number of elements, typically 64 to 512
  • Versatile, Dynamic, Accuracy or Hard face acoustic technology
  • Reproducibility of the inspection through the homogeneity of performance between the elements of the same probe, and between different probes of the same type

Housing

  • Ergonomic or basic housing
  • High reliability over time thanks to a robust, watertight design, compatible with harsh industrial environments

Cable and connector

 

Standard Configurations

Freq.
(MHz)
Nb elts Pitch p
(mm)
Active size
(mm)
 Housing size
(mm)
10 64 0.5 32 x 10 40 x 16 x 35
10 128 0.5 64 x 10 75 x 20 x 40
5 64 1 64 x 15 75 x 20 x 40
5 128 1 128 x 15 140 x 25 x 45
2.25 128 1.5 192 x 15 205 x 30 x 45
2.25 64 2 128 x 20 140 x 30 x 35

*Indicative values

Options

Example of probe with prefocused active area and ruggedized cable
  • Pre-focused active area (see below)
  • Captive screws of lateral flanges for wedge attachment
  • Integrated wedge
  • Housing adapted to the probe holder
  • Low profile and side cable for wheel probe
  • Halogen-free for nuclear environments
  • Customized cabling
  • Adaptation to a particular environment (temperature, pressure, radiation, chemical compatibility)

 

Mechanical Pre-focusing

On linear arrays, electronic focusing is possible only in the plane of incidence. However, in the perpendicular plane (passive aperture), it is possible to adjust focal depth and lateral resolution by using mechanical pre-focusing, by choosing the appropriate radius of curvature, active width (h) and water path.