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Wavelength and Defect Detection

Wavelength and Defect Detection The wavelength of ultrasound used has a significant effect on the probability of detecting a discontinuity. Discontinuities larger than half the wavelength can usually be detected. Sensitivity and resolution generally increase with higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths, allowing for detection of smaller discontinuities and those closer together. However, higher frequencies can cause more scattering in materials with coarse grains or imperfections, reducing penetration depth. The optimal frequency balances detection capabilities with material properties and expected flaw characteristics.

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134 views1 page

Wavelength and Defect Detection

Wavelength and Defect Detection The wavelength of ultrasound used has a significant effect on the probability of detecting a discontinuity. Discontinuities larger than half the wavelength can usually be detected. Sensitivity and resolution generally increase with higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths, allowing for detection of smaller discontinuities and those closer together. However, higher frequencies can cause more scattering in materials with coarse grains or imperfections, reducing penetration depth. The optimal frequency balances detection capabilities with material properties and expected flaw characteristics.

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Wavelength and Defect Detection

In ultrasonic testing the inspector must make a decision about the frequency of the
transducer that will be used. As we learned on the previous page, changing the frequency
when the sound velocity is fixed will result in a change in the wavelength of the sound.
The wavelength of the ultrasound used has significant affect on the probability of
detecting a discontinuity. A rule of thumb in industrial inspections is that discontinuities
that are larger than one-half the size of wavelength can be usually be detected.
Sensitivity and resolution are two terms that are often used in ultrasonic inspection to
describe a technique's ability to locate flaws. Sensitivity is the ability to locate small
discontinuities. Sensitivity generally increases with higher frequency (shorter
wavelengths). Resolution is the ability of the system to locate discontinuities that are
close together within the material or located near the part surface. Resolution also
generally increases as the frequency increases.
The wave frequency can also affect the capability of an inspection in adverse ways.
Therefore, selecting the optimal inspection frequency often involves maintaining a
balance between favorable and unfavorable results of the selection. Before selecting an
inspection frequency, the grain structure, material thickness, size, type, and probable
location of the discontinuity should be considered. As frequency increases, sound tends to
scatter from large or course grain structure and from small imperfections within a
material. Cast materials often have coarse grains and other sound scatters that require
lower frequencies to be used for evaluations of these products. Wrought and forged
products with directional and refined grain structure, can usually be inspected with higher
frequency transducers.
Since more things in a material are likely to scatter a portion of the sound energy at
higher frequencies, the penetrating power (or the maximum depth in a material that flaws
can be located) is also reduced. Frequency also has an effect on the shape of the
ultrasonic beam. Beam spread, or the divergence of the beam from the center axis of the
transducer, and how it is affected by frequency will be discussed later.
It should be mentioned, so as not to be misleading, that a number of other variables will
also affect the ability of ultrasound to locate defects. These include pulse length, type and
voltage applied to the crystal, properties of the crystal, backing material, transducer
diameter, and the receiver circuitry of the instrument. These are discussed in more detail
in the material on signal-to-noise ratio.

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