Two-dimensional (2D) phased arrays have the potential to significantly change the way in which engineering components in safety critical industries are inspected. In addition to enabling a three-dimensional (3D) volume of a component to be inspected from a single location, they could also be used in a C-scan configuration. The latter would enable any point in a component to be interrogated over a range of solid angles, allowing more accurate defect characterization and sizing. This paper describes the simulation and evaluation of grid, cross and circular 2D phased array element configurations. The aim of the cross and circle configurations is to increase the effective aperture for a given number of elements. Due to the multitude of possible array element configurations a model, based on Huygens’ principle, has been developed to allow analysis and comparison of candidate array designs. In addition to the element configuration, key issues such as element size, spacing, and frequency are discussed and quantitatively compared using the volume of the 3D point spread function (PSF) as a measurand. The results of this modeling indicate that, for a given number of elements, a circular array performs best and that the element spacing should be less than half a wavelength to avoid grating lobes. A prototype circular array has been built and initial results are presented. These show that a flat bottomed hole, half a wavelength in diameter, can be imaged. Furthermore, it is shown that the volume of the 3D reflection obtained experimentally from the end of the hole compares well with the volume of the 3D PSF predicted for the array at that point.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2005
Research Papers
Design of Two-Dimensional Ultrasonic Phased Array Transducers
Shyamal C. Mondal,
Shyamal C. Mondal
University of Bristol
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Paul D. Wilcox,
Paul D. Wilcox
University of Bristol
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Bruce W. Drinkwater
Bruce W. Drinkwater
University of Bristol
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK
Search for other works by this author on:
Shyamal C. Mondal
University of Bristol
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK
Paul D. Wilcox
University of Bristol
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bristol BS8 1TR, UK
Bruce W. Drinkwater
University of Bristol
, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bristol BS8 1TR, UKJ. Pressure Vessel Technol. Aug 2005, 127(3): 336-344 (9 pages)
Published Online: March 2, 2005
Article history
Received:
February 24, 2005
Revised:
March 2, 2005
Citation
Mondal, S. C., Wilcox, P. D., and Drinkwater, B. W. (March 2, 2005). "Design of Two-Dimensional Ultrasonic Phased Array Transducers." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. August 2005; 127(3): 336–344. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1991873
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
On the possibility of extending the crack length criterion in the master curve methodology
J. Pressure Vessel Technol
Investigation of Fracture Prediction Capability of XFEM and FEM using SENT Specimens
J. Pressure Vessel Technol
The Behavior of Elbow Elements at Pure Bending Applications Compared to Beam and Shell Element Models
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (February 2025)
Related Articles
Enhanced Ultrasonic Imaging and Non-Destructive Evaluation Using Angle-of-Arrival Estimation in Dimension-Reduced Beam Space
ASME J Nondestructive Evaluation (August,2020)
Gas Coupled Ultrasonic Measurement of Pipeline Wall Thickness
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (August,2005)
Focused Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers for Lamb Wave Inspection
ASME J Nondestructive Evaluation (February,2025)
On Circumferential Disposition of Pipe Defects by Long-Range Ultrasonic Guided Waves
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (November,2005)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Inspection and Maintenance of Ageing Concrete Oil and Gas Structures on the Norwegian Continental Shelf
Ageing and Life Extension of Offshore Facilities
Use Inspection as a Means of Reducing Failures Caused By Corrosion Under Wet Insulation
Corrosion of Metals Under Thermal Insulation
Getting Ready for Production
Total Quality Development: A Step by Step Guide to World Class Concurrent Engineering