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Dakota Ultrasonics
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two elements and their delay lines are packaged in a single housing but acoustically
isolated from each other with an insulated sound barrier. This allows the transducer
the ability to achieve very high sensitivity for detecting small defects. Also, the
surface of the test material does not have to be as flat in order to obtain good
measurements.
Dual element transducers are normally used in pulse-echo mode for finding defects,
and in echo-echo mode for through coating measurements.
Dual element delay line transducers are have a usable range of 0.025” and up,
depending on the material, frequency, and diameter.
A limitation of dual element delay-line transducers is the V shaped sound path.
Because the sound travels from one element to another, the time versus thickness
relationship is non-linear. Therefore, a correction table in the instruments software is
used to compensate for this error.
Dual Element Transducer showing V-path of signal
Searching for small defects
Dual element delay line transducers are especially useful in searching for small
defects. In pulse-echo mode with high amplifier gain, very small defects can be
located. As a result, this configuration is commonly used for corrosion inspections.
The dual element style transducer will find wall deterioration, pits, cracks, and any
porosity pockets during tank and pipeline inspections.
Echo-Echo (E-E) Mode – Through Paint
The echo-echo mode measures between the first and second return
echoes/reflections. This technique is commonly used when measuring through a
surface coating and measuring only the second layer of material. Tanks and pipes
commonly have a protective coating applied to the surface. Echo-echo mode will
enable the user to measure just the steel without having to remove the coating. The
disadvantage is that two return echoes are required to effectively measure the test
material. Additionally, echo-echo mode does not have the capability to find defects.
Therefore, both modes will commonly be used; echo-echo mode to find the nominal
thickness of the material without removing the coating, and pulse-echo to locate
defects.