Olympus offers a wide variety of phased array (PA) probes using piezocomposite technology for all types of phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) inspections. The standard Olympus PA probes featured here are divided into three types:
Angle beam probes
Integrated wedge probes
Immersion probes
Other types of probes can be designed to suit the needs of your application. Ultrasonic testing using phased array probes is fast becoming the preferred NDT method because it is efficient, reliable, and safer than some alternative methods. Linear arrays are the most commonly used phased array probes for industrial applications. One important feature that defines phased array probes is the active probe aperture (the total length of the elements in the active plane). From dual
array probes for welding to PA probes for corrosion, each option provides fast scan speeds, sharp imagery, and accurate testing results.
With its unique Rexolite delay line and small footprint, the RexoFORM wedge is optimized for phased array 0° and angle beam inspection in limited-access locations. It offers an economical corrosion mapping solution, conforming to a wide range of pipe diameters without the need for a continuous water supply.
Welding inspection probes offer housings combined with a front or top exit cable to avoid interference with the scanner probe holder. These probes are suitable for manual and automated inspections of welds. Our A31 and A32 weld series phased array probes and wedges simplify and standardize weld inspections, offering an improved signal-to-noise ratio.
This patented focusing wedge series helps compensate for beam divergence in the passive direction for pipe girth weld inspection. The smaller beam width enables the sizing of shorter flaws on the scan axis, helping lower rejection rates, and sharpening the images.
Our Dual Linear Array (DLA) and Dual Matrix Array (DMA) probes consist of two linear or matrix array probes wired to the same connector with the capacity to perform transmit-receive longitudinal (TRL) inspection. They are particularly helpful when testing cladded pipes or highly attenuating materials, or for applications with high-sensitivity requirements.
The new Dual Linear Array™ probe offers several advantages over conventional ultrasonic dual element transducers for corrosion survey applications. This phased array solution improves productivity through features such as larger beam coverage, faster scan speed, and C-scan imaging with increased data-point density.
For high-temperature hydrogen attack (HTHA) inspection, these optimized Dual Linear Array™ (DLA) and linear array probes enable earlier and more reliable detection through a combination of improved sensitivity, resolution, and image clarity with a wide coverage of the weld, HAZ, and parent materials.
Our A24 probe series for manual contact inspection incorporates an ergonomic case design, replaceable membrane, and large square aperture to work in a variety of applications. The 0.02-inch (0.5 mm) thick membrane makes it simpler to verify coupling, glides smoothly on rough surfaces, and is resistant to wear.
The universal probes are designed to have a low-profile probe/wedge combination for easier access in restricted areas. A wide selection of wedges is available to suit any angle beam application. These probes are used for manual or automated inspection of 6.35 mm to 38 mm thick welds and the inspections of castings, forgings, pipes, tubes, and machined and structural components for cracks and welding defects.
Near-wall probes offer a shortened dead zone at both ends of the probe (1.5 mm between center of first or last element and housing edge). They are well suited for composite channel inspections and are used for C-scan inspections of composites (delamination, disbonding, and porosity).
Deep penetration probes can be matched to a wide selection of wedges to suit any angle beam application. These probes are dedicated to deep penetration applications such as the inspection of thick plates and welds, forging, and noisy or granular material.
Immersion probes are designed to be used with a water wedge or in an immersion tank when the test part is partially or wholly immersed. They are longitudinal wave probes that can be set up for refracted shear-wave inspections using a Rexolite wedge.
Curved array probes are made with a corrosion-resistant stainless steel case and are guaranteed waterproof up to 1 m underwater. The acoustic impedance of these probes matches water. They are compatible with adjustable immersion wedges and are used for the inspection of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) corners and in addition to the inspection of composite for delamination.
Immersion corner wedges for curved array probes are available in specific radii and angles and also with adjustable radius to fit on various components to be inspected. These wedges are designed to perform manual scans and to accommodate the Mini-Wheel encoder.
Integrated wedge and code compliant probes combine the probe and the wedge in the same housing, offering the lowest-profile probe-and-wedge combination for contact angle beam inspection. Coupling is always good between probe and wedge interfaces, as there is no need for couplant between the probe and wedge. These probes are used for manual weld inspection using 40° to 70° simultaneously in addition to manual inspection of stress-corrosion cracking and AWS and DGS code compliant applications.
The wedges for angle beam probes are available in standard refracted angles of 0°, 45°, 55°, and 60° in steel for angle-beam inspections from 30° to 70°, SW or LW. They come with stainless steel screw receptacles providing a firm anchoring of probes to wedges. The IHC wedge option can be ordered to improve the quality of the inspection: irrigation, mounting holes for the wedge holder to work with any Olympus scanner, and carbide pins to increase wear resistance.
Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) is fast becoming the safest and preferred nondestructive testing method. As a leader in the field, Olympus offers an extensive selection of standard and custom connector options for phased array probes for all types of instrumentation.