Ultrasonic nondestructive testing is well established as a method of insuring the integrity of structural welds in steel,
titanium, and aluminum, being able to identify cracking, porosity, incomplete penetration, inclusions, lack of sidewall
fusion, and similar defects that can compromise weld strength. Ultrasonic testing with portable flaw detectors and angle beam
transducers is the most commonly utilized technique for weld inspection, and is mandated by many welding codes and
procedures. In the automotive industry, spot welds are commonly tested with flaw detectors and a variety of small,
specialized transducers. Phased array technology adds color graphics images that can simplify interpretation of results by
creating cross-sectional pictures of a weld, as well as offering beam-steering and dynamic focusing capability that enhances
resolution in challenging applications. Furthermore, phased arrays offer full data storage, faster weld inspections and
better reproducibility.