Construction & Infrastructure
The building and infrastructure sector encompasses various activities related to building, engineering, specialty construction and planning and development. This sector is a vital economic sector globally, from power plants and dams to bridges and urban infrastructure.
NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) plays a crucial role in assessing the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure, ensuring the safety and reliability of the infrastructure used every day by millions of people. Ultrasonic inspection (UT) is used throughout the industry and can fit into projects in the following ways:
1. Inspection areas
- Safety and Quality Assurance: UT allows technicians to detect discontinuities in critical areas and assess them against stringent criteria to ensure adherence with safety codes.
- Inspection During Construction: UT inspection during construction can identify manufacturing discontinuities and out-of-specification parts.
- Maintenance and durability: NDT can be carried out in maintenance periods to detect in-service defects.
- Long-term monitoring: NDT is essential for the long-term monitoring of structures, informing of degradation patterns or deformation of a structure over time.
Sonatest has specialised solutions for all aspects of inspection in the construction industry, The VEO3 is a multi-technique specialist system capable of performing phased array weld inspection and corrosion mapping, also included are TFM (Total Focusing Method), TFMi and TOFD (Time of Flight Diffraction) (Time of Flight Diffraction) inspection methods, each providing further inspection solutions to the inspector.
The Wheel Probe 2 allows large areas to be corrosion mapped quickly and with minimum water needed in the area.
The Wave interactive flaw detector with its CAD import scan plan allows the visual representation of complex geometry parts, showing exactly where signals originate from, making it easier to differentiate a geometric signal from a defect signal, reducing false calls and saving time and money in the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the importance of ultrasonic testing in infrastructure projects?
- How does ultrasonic testing support the maintenance of ageing infrastructure?
- Why can phased array technology be beneficial for infrastructure inspections?
- What makes Sonatest’s ultrasonic testing solutions suitable for infrastructure applications?
What is the importance of ultrasonic testing in infrastructure projects?
Ultrasonic testing (UT) plays a vital role in infrastructure projects by ensuring structural integrity during its construction so it will remain safe for its expected life duration. Critical welds can be found in bridges, pipelines, and buildings. The ultrasound method is used to detect flaws and evaluate weld quality. This NDT step is required for structural welds.
How does ultrasonic testing support the maintenance of ageing infrastructure?
As steel infrastructure ages, material degradation such as corrosion, cracks, or thinning can compromise safety. Ultrasonic testing provides accurate data on the condition of structural elements, enabling targeted repairs and proactive maintenance, thus extending the lifespan of assets while minimising downtime.
Why can phased array technology be beneficial for infrastructure inspections?
Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) offers advanced imaging capabilities and greater flexibility compared to conventional UT methods. It enables rapid and detailed coverage of welds, joints, and other critical components in infrastructure, making it an ideal choice for complex structures and large-scale projects.
What makes Sonatest’s ultrasonic testing solutions suitable for infrastructure applications?
Sonatest’s ultrasonic testing solutions, such as the VEO3 Wave systems, deliver exceptional precision and reliability. Their user-friendly designs, advanced VEO3 technologies like TFM (Total Focusing Method), and rugged durability ensure they perform effectively in demanding environments, making them ideal for inspecting infrastructure assets. Reporting is also integrated as to the instruments (extra: PDF report can be sent by email using the Wave) to provide fast feedback during the construction contract.
Construction & Infrastructure Resources
