Ultrasonic testing (UT) is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique that uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to detect and characterize flaws or discontinuities within materials. UT is widely used in various industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, construction, and oil and gas, to assess the integrity of structures and components. Flaw detection is one of the primary applications of ultrasonic testing.
Ultrasonic testing can detect various types of flaws, including:
- Cracks: Surface cracks, subsurface cracks, and internal cracks.
- Voids and Inclusions: Air bubbles, foreign particles, or other inclusions within the material.
- Delaminations: Separation of layers in laminated materials.
- Bonding Quality: Detecting poor bonding between materials or layers.
- Thickness Variation: Identifying variations in material thickness.
