Automated flaw discrimination

Automated high sensitivity ultrasonic inspections of thick-section weldments using multi-probe arrays are increasingly being used as a reliable method of defect detection. Very large amounts of data are often collected, much of which is not associated with defect signals but with cladding noise, geometrical reflections, probe reverberations or electronic noise. The noise signals are often of higher amplitude than signals from real defects and cannot therefore be eliminated by simply raising the recording threshold. The reliability and speed of the analysis of this type of data is difficult and is still dependent on the operator. Developments aimed at automating the defect detection process are described