Phased Array, FMC/TFM, and the Future of Ultrasonic Testing on Chat NDT with ASNT

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

In this month’s episode of Chat NDT with ASNT, host Debbie Segor, CAE, speaks with Alan Caulder, vice president of sales for Advanced OEM Solutions (AOS) and The Phased Array Company (TPAC).

The two discuss how Alan first became involved in NDT and earned his ASNT NDT Level III in ultrasonic testing (UT), eventually joining AOS and TPAC and becoming exposed to the next evolution in UT, full matrix capture/total focusing method (FMC/TFM).

Alan explains how phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) evolved from conventional UT, diving into the physics and practical applications that differentiate it. He also discusses how PAUT complements other NDT methods and techniques. The two discuss the future of UT, including the adoption of FMC/TFM and the potential and limitations of automation and artificial intelligence/machine learning in UT.

Listen to the full conversation below or search for Chat NDT with ASNT in your favorite podcast platform.

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Haley Cowans is the Content Strategist at ASNT, hcowans@asnt.org.

Debbie Segor, CAE, is the Marketing and Communications Manager at ASNT, and the host of Chat NDT with ASNT. To be a guest on the podcast, contact dsegor@asnt.org.

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For an introduction to PAUT, check out our blog post “NDT Overview: An Introduction to Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing.”

You can learn more about FMC/TFM from Alan below:

More PAUT and FMC/TFM resources from ASNT:

  • “Use of the Total Focusing Method with the Envelope Feature,” Nicolas Badeau, Guillaume Painchaud-April, Alain Le Duff, Materials Evaluation, Volume 78, Issue 11, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32548/2020.me-04152

  • “Assessment of High-Temperature Hydrogen Attack Using Advanced Ultrasonic Array Techniques,” M.G. Lozev, G.A. Neau, L. Yu, T.J. Eason, S.E. Orwig, R.C. Collins, P.K. Mammen, F. Reverdy, S. Lonne, C. Wassink, H. Cence, J. Chew, Materials Evaluation, Volume 78, Issue 11, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32548/2020.me-04183

  • “An Experimental Study on Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing for Internal Inspection of Gas Storage Wells” Zheng Yanchun, Miao Cunjian, Hong Lixiang, Guo Weican, Materials Evaluation, Volume 80, Issue 8, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32548/2022.me-04278

  • “Phased Array Beam Steering for Composites” Barry Fetzer, presented at NDT of Composites 2021 https://ndtlibrary.asnt.org/2021/PhasedArrayBeamSteeringforComposites

  • “Advantages of Compound S-scan over Sectorial Scan or E-scan: A Case Study,” Stephen Sundarraj, Materials Evaluation, Vol. 79, No. 12, December 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32548/2021.me-04219

  • “Optimizing Probe Active Aperture for Phased Array Weld Inspections,” Anmol Birring, Materials Evaluation, Vol. 79, No. 8, August 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.32548/2021.me-04220

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