Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a volumetric inspection method used to assess the integrity of materials, welds, and structures. UT is essential for detecting the most critical planar and tight discontinuities, such as cracks or delaminations, which could result in structural failures or loss of tightness.
UT, SWUT, and UT-SCAN techniques are applied to ferritic and austenitic steels, as well as non-ferrous metals (including aluminum, copper, and nickel), and composite materials. These methods enable the detection and classification of defects such as lack of fusion, incomplete penetration, rolling defects, slag inclusions, non-metallic inclusions, porosity, and gas bubbles. Our services support the shipbuilding, energy, offshore, petrochemical, and construction industries.
The inspection involves transmitting high-frequency (over 20 kHz) ultrasonic waves into the material using a specialized probe. These waves travel through the tested structure, and their reflections and changes in parameters (amplitude, phase, spectrum) are recorded and analyzed. The presence of discontinuities produces characteristic disturbances in the signal, allowing for precise defect location and sizing. Advanced methods like SWUT and UT-SCAN generate detailed C-scan or B-scan images, providing a precise map of the internal structure.