Conventional ultrasonic testing (UT) and phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) of steel bridge pins is important for several reasons, primarily related to ensuring the structural integrity and safety of the bridge [1,2]. Some of the key reasons why ultrasonic testing is crucial for steel bridge pins include: Detection of Flaws and Defects: Ultrasonic testing can detect various flaws and defects in steel bridge pins, such as cracks, voids, inclusions, and corrosion. Identify

In 2015, the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.5 Bridge Welding Code [1,2,3] adopted the annex, "Advanced Ultrasonic Examination," that provides the recommended practice to perform phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) on steel bridge joints in lieu of radiographic testing. The annex is an ultrasonic testing alternative to the standard shear wave ultrasonic testing described in AWS D1.5 BWC that has been used for decades. This article describes the basic approach to perform

Automated ultrasonic testing is used to support many inspection code and standard ultrasonic surveys per requirements in American Petroleum Institute API 510 Pressure Vessel Inspection [1], API 570 Piping Inspection Code [2], API-653 Tank Inspection and Repair [3], and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Guide for Non-destructive Inspection [4]. Automated ultrasonic testing of ship hulls is used to assess the hull plates for general corrosion, pitting and other wastage that ma

Introduction to Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing System Verification Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) equipment calibration can mean many things and is addressed via many standards including ASTM E2491, ASTM E317, ISO 22232-1:2020, ISO 22232-2:2020, and ISO 22232-2:2020 (Did I lose you yet?). Additionally, there are other calibrations related to the performance of the combined phased array pulser/receiver and probe combinations including velocity, wedge delay, sensitivi

In-Service Water Tank Inspection Aboveground steel water storage tanks require internal inspection in accordance with the relevant American Water Works Association (AWWA) [1,2] , National Fire Protection Association [3], or local/state/federal regulatory requirements. Aboveground water storage tanks are most commonly used for potable water storage, wastewater treatment, and fire protection. The cost to remove the tank from service can often exceed the cost of the internal ins

There are four standard techniques for welding railroad tracks: Flash-butt welding, the gas-pressure welding, the enclosed-arc welding, and thermite welding. In this article, railroad the thermite welding process, thermite weld defects and thermite weld non-destructive testing are discussed. Railroad thermite welding is a high temperature process that exploits chemical heat of reaction as the heat input source. During the welding process, the two ends of the adjoined rails a

Non-Destructive Testing: Magnetic Particle Testing (MT, MPI) Magnetic particle testing (MT) is a fast, simple, and cost effect non-destructive testing technique that is capable of finding discontinuities in ferromagnetic metals. Compared to other non-destructive testing techniques, magnetic particle testing is the most reliable at finding surface and near surface discontinuities. Magnetic particle testing can detect inherent discontinuities such as ingot pipe, cold shuts, and

Introduction Non-destructive testing (NDT) of amusement park infrastructure is critical to the safe operation of the broad spectrum of rides. The majority of amusement park infrastructure is fabricated from structural steel to American Welding Society (DWS) Structural Welding Code D1.1 [1] or comparable ride manufacturer specifications. Amusement park infrastructure includes everything from massive roller coaster infrastructure to smaller lap bars and pins. Many components

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in power generation, petrochemical and chemical plants is a perplexing problem to detect with non-destructive testing due to the unique requirements to initiate and propagate SCCs. Stress corrosion crack initiation and propagation require a material susceptibility, a corrosive environment, and tensile stress. For a given metal alloy, a sweet spot of these three factors may initiate and propagate SCC. SCC which may manifest as intergranular

Swivel joints play an important role in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and flowback operations in the oil and natural gas industry. Swivel joints are manufactured from high quality 43XX steel alloys suitable for service in cementing, fracturing fluids, drill mud, crude oil, and other applications [1-3]. Swivels are used in the above operations to facilitate divergent flowline around fixed assets, where exact alignment and additional degree of freedoms are required, avoidi

Oil and natural gas well pads are omnipresent in the different shale plays across the U.S including the Marcellus and Utica shales in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. A well pad is a well-tuned collection of different transmission, storage, and processing components designed to prepare the product for midstream and downstream stages. Well pads consist of a variety of corrosion resistant steel flowlines, storage vessels, and pressure components that require periodic

Introduction Aboveground storage tank floors can be inspected for bottom side corrosion using several non-destructive testing techniques (NDT) including acoustic emission testing (AE) [1}, magnetic flux leakage testing (MFL) [2-4], ultrasonic testing (UT/PAUT) [5] and visual inspection (VT). Tank floor inspection is most performed using magnetic flux leakage (MFL) testing due to its screening capability for tank bottom side metal loss. Most MFL inspections require follow-up

Introduction Pipelines start to deteriorate the moment they commissioned and placed in-service. Pipeline corrosion and metal loss from the inside (ID) or outside (OD) diameter are almost inevitable. From the moment a pipeline commissioned, it begins to deteriorate, with the specific pipeline corrosion mechanism depends on the product transported, operating and ambient temperature, metal alloy used, insulation, operational environment and other factors. This article focus

Wood Pole Inspection, Treatment, and Asset Management Introduction Utility pole asset management is an exciting market in North America that will exceed $100M in 2022. Utility poles are sourced from a variety of different materials including different wood species, painted carbon steel, galvanized carbon steel, stainless steel, and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). The goal of utility pole asset management is to extend the useful life of the asset maximize the lifetime e

The article reviews some of the basic principle of FMC/TFM data acquisition and imaging processes and compares them to standard phased array techniques. An introduction to the most important American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code is also provided. Introduction In theory, the advanced ultrasonic testing technique Full Matrix Capture / Total Focusing Method (FMC/TFM) should offer improved inspection performance compared to Phased Ar

Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks are common storage tanks for a wide variety of hazardous chemicals from hydrochloric acid to sodium hydroxide both with pHs ranging from 2 to 14, respectively. The resin layer is the designed to protect the tank shell from corrosion, or chemical attack, that can thin or penetrate through the resin layer and attack the structural layer. Many FRP tanks that store hazardous products a part of a closed process and therefore can not be r

Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing of Encased Pipeline and Spacer Selection The performance of guided wave ultrasonic testing (GWUT) or long-range ultrasonic testing (LRUT) is generally well understood in aboveground and underground inspection applications [1]. At this time, the expected inspection range for uncoated and coated pipe are also well understood for GWUT testing of above and underground piping systems [2]. A niche GWUT testing market are pipelines that travel under

Acoustic emission generated by composite pressure vessels, in theory, should be relatively straight forward to analyze and to draw conclusions from if damage is present and/or damage is progressing by measuring the amount of acoustic emission generated and/or the rate at which acoustic emission is detected. A high amplitude acoustic emission hit from the same source to sensor distance should, in theory, be from a more severe source than a lower amplitude hit. Similarly, a

Introduction Aerospace components draw from a broad range of materials and geometries and typically require advanced nondestructive testing techniques to inspect the various aluminum, composite and other advanced material components. Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) non-destructive testing oversight is very structured and does not necessary transfer or complement NDT personnel and procedures established in other industries like oil and gas, civil, and con

Wood Pole Testing Thomas Hay Ph.D., P.E. Introduction to Wood Pole Testing Wood pole inspection is a surprisingly large inspection market which includes public and private utilities, municipalities, school districts, and many other private/public entities that own and maintain wood utility poles. Wood pole testing is primarily carried out using two nondestructive testing (NDT) methods — relative density measurements across the pole diameter and visual inspection. Density m