Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (UT) systems offer the greatest possibility of performing inspections with the ultrasonic beams of various angles and focal lengths using a single array of transducers. software control over the beam angles and focusing is achieved by application of precisely controlled delays to both the emission pulse and received signal for each element in an array of transducers, hence the term, “phased array”.

Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (UT) systems offer the greatest possibility of performing inspections with the ultrasonic beams of various angles and focal lengths using a single array of transducers. Software control over the beam angles and focusing is achieved by application of precisely controlled delays to both the emission pulse and received signal for each element in an array of transducers, hence the term, “phased array”. The benefits of phased array technology over conventional UT come from its ability to use multiple elements to steer, focus and scan beams with a single transducer assembly. Beam steering, commonly referred to as sectorial scanning, can be used for mapping components at appropriate angles. These can greatly simply the inspection of components with complex geometries. The ability to test welds with multiple angles from a single probe greatly increases the probability of detection of discontinuities and anomalies. The ability to focus at multiple depths also improves the ability for sizing critical defects for volumetric inspections. Manufacturing flaws (lack of sidewall fusion, lack of root penetration, lack of root fusion, porosity, etc.), in services flaws (fatigue cracking, stress corrosion cracking, corrosion, erosion, etc.) and parent metal flaws (inclusions and laminations) are among the defects that phased array can readily detect.