What Does Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Mean?
Ultrasonic testing is a form of nondestructive testing. Ultrasonic testing uses special equipment to send high frequency sound waves to penetrate a material's thickness. Other special equipment is then used to receive these sound waves. Determinations about material condition and discontinuities can be made based on how the high frequency sound waves are returned to the recording equipment.
Ultrasonic testing can be used to detect a variety of discontinuities. Material thickness checks can be done to determine the extent of corrosion a component has undergone. This is especially useful when only one side of the component is accessible. Ultrasonic testing can also be used to detect flaws that radiographic inspection may not be able to detect. Discontinuities such as laminations, when observed perpendicular to the plane of the lamination, are not easily detectable by X-ray; ultrasonic testing is better suited for detecting this flaw.
