Experimental validation of a phased array probe model in ultrasonic inspection

New manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing facilitate flexible and complex designs and production of components. However, these new techniques should not compromise the safety aspect, which imposes higher demands on the integrity insurance and inspection methods. Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) provides advanced inspection and evaluation processes, whereas qualification is still needed when applied together with new manufacturing techniques. Numerical modeling, as one of the potential qualification methods, has been developed for decades and should be validated before practical applications. This paper presents an experimental validation work of the phased array probe model implemented in a software, simSUNDT, by comparing the maximum echo amplitudes between the physical experiments and simulations. Two test specimens with side-drilled holes (SDHs) and different materials are considered for validation and practical purposes. An experimental platform with a mechanized gantry system, which enables stabilized inspection procedure, is built and applied during the validation work. Good correlations can be seen from the comparisons and this model is concluded as an acceptable alternative to the corresponding experimental work. The relation between depth and beam angle is also noticed and investigated, which is essential to guarantee an accurate inspection.