What's AUT ?

SIUI NDT AUT (SIUI)

1. AUT Background

Automatic welding has the advantages of good weld mechanical properties, high welding efficiency, fewer welding defects, and data collection of welding parameters. It is widely used in the welding of pipes with large diameter and thickness.

Automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) to test pipeline girth welds during pipeline construction has been increasing substantially around the world. For girth-welded pipelines with auto welds, with AUT system, users can detect and analyze weld defects quickly.

2. What's AUT ?

From the image, AUT system looks similar to automated scanners. They both support:

• Automated scanning
• PA+TOFD scanning in the same time
• For pipe weld inspection...

But they actually are quite different. In this blog, we will explain what's AUT by illustrating the following differences.

Differences between AUT system and automated scanner:

• Application
• Technology
• Probe
• Calibration block
• Software
• Components

2.1 Application

AUT system is suitable for specific groove types, such as compound U/ V and U weld grooves, especially for CRC automatic welding interface detection.

The pipe automatic welding adopts narrow-gap groove for welding, which can greatly reduce the filling amount of welding materials, reduce the swing width of the welding torch, increase the swing frequency of the welding torch, and improve the welding efficiency.

The main welding defect is non-fusion, and there are other defects such as incomplete penetration, porosity and cracks.

2.2 Technology

AUT (Automated Ultrasonic Testing), the core principle is the zone discrimination inspection technique. It means dividing the weld into several zones in the vertical direction (each zone covers about 2-3mm), and using a pitch and catch technique focusing a single ultrasonic beam into each one of these zones. TOFD and phased array sector scans can be added as needed for the inspection.

2.3 Probe

AUT probe can emit thousands of focusing laws, adopts the partition method, sets the testing plan of Fusion Zones, Volumetric Zones, and is supplemented by Coupling Channel, which can be used for testing bevel surface and interior defects in girth welds of long-distance pipeline. No blind zone of ultrasonic testing.

2.4 Calibration block

The calibration block contains two main parts, Upstream and Downstream parts. Each part is divided into different zones. These two parts have the same zones distribution, and are used for one AUT probe calibration respectively.

F- Fusion zones : mainly on bevel surface.

V- Volumetric zones: mainly on the inside of weld.

R 1.0- RootNotch

LCP- RootFill

HP- HotPass

Trans- Transverse

4.5 Software

The workpiece is designed for the narrow-gap groove for pipe automated welding. The user can quickly simulate the workpiece in real time. The simulation setup is simple and easy to operate, and the common groove types for AUT are already preset.

The software will automatically setup parameters of probe and wedge according to the workpiece, partition and reflector information, and simulate the focal laws for dozens of zones, saving user time to manually set the process.

The software can automatically measure the calibration image of multiple channels at the same timewith one key, automatically obtain the main amplitude of each channel, its adjacent reflector amplitudeand wedge delay, and determine whether they comply with the standard requirements (green for Pass, and Red for failed). According to the information obtained from automatic monitoring, the software realizes one-key correction for the deviation of all channels.

The main data output is a strip chart, one strip for each beam or zone.

2.6 Components

AUT system includes not only the automated scanner, but also the integrated ultrasonic module, laptop with customized AUT software, ect.

3. SIUI AUT

SIUI AUT system ALPHA 1003 is suitable for pipe diameter≥500mm(19.7in.), with recommended thickness≥6mm(0.25in.) With innovative integrated module and cable-free design, it is your new choice for AUT!

ALPHA 1003 featuers:

• Portable and easy carrying, only 15kg.
• With integrated PAUT+TOFD module, avoid cables getting tangled and pulled when scanning.
• Supports wireless transmission and real-time data acquisition.
• Wheels with groove design keeps scanner scanning on a straight line, with the offset <lmm from the center of the weld to the probe flank.
• Short AUT inspection cycle time for high production rates

More info for SIUI AUT system, contact [email protected].