Phased array scanner

09/04/2021

Olympus’s new RollerFORM™ XL scanner answers the demand for a wide-coverage and easy-to-implement phased array tool to accelerate the inspection of composite components with large surface areas.

In the aerospace and wind energy industries, critical components such as aircraft wings and wind turbine blades are made with lightweight, durable composite material. Inspectors use non-destructive testing technology to ensure the integrity of these parts, both before they are assembled and during in-service maintenance. Ultrasonic testing is a standard method, but the extensive surface areas of the parts, the attenuative nature of composite materials and the complicated operation of some ultrasonic testing equipment can cause problems. The new RollerFORM XL scanner is an innovative and easy-to-use phased array wheel probe that helps resolve these issues.

Based on the field-proven design and performance of the original RollerFORM scanner, the RollerFORM XL scanner’s tyre with integrated phased array probe provides a beam coverage that is twice as wide. Scanning large parts is more efficient and the accuracy of the data is improved since the wider beam coverage also increases the probability of detection.

Light and easy to operate, the RollerFORM XL scanner takes minimal effort to set up and inspect compared with immersion-based testing. Strong, reliable signals are obtained without a couplant pumping system due to the scanner’s innovative tyre. Interface reflections are minimised because the tyre is filled with liquid and the material has an acoustic impedance that closely matches water. This similarity enables the ultrasound beam energy to transmit efficiently into the part.

Beam penetration is optimised in attenuative composite materials because of the scanner’s optional low-frequency large-elevation phased array probe. Inspectors can easily integrate this new wider model into existing wheel probe procedures. The RollerFORM XL scanner also has an encoder, an indexing button and a start acquisition button to facilitate complete scans of large wings or blades.
With minimal set-up, inspectors can implement this self-contained wheel probe system to not only save time but also improve the accuracy of their results.

www.olympus-ims.com