Features

Creating an Inspection Plan

No ultrasonic knowledge is required to create and populate an inspection plan. All that is required is to describe the inspection task, and enter the basic information such as site location, number of welds, pipe diameter, thickness and material, weld preparation, procedure and method to be used. The software will then calculate and generate all the UT setups required to perform TOFD and/or Phased Array inspection of the specified welds. These set-ups include:

• Selection of the correct probes and wedges from a database
• Positioning of the probe
• Positioning of the required UT parameters to perform an efficient inspection according to the standard and code based procedure selected.

Validating an Inspection Plan

A technician qualified in ultrasonics must then validate the setups. Each weld is split in one or several passes with TOFD or PA technique. The UT specialists have to validate these passes by using a Raytracing tool. They also have the ability to modify them by selecting another probe from the data base, adjusting the probe(s) position(s). When all the passes are validated, the inspection plan can be exported to the acquisition unit.

Calibration

As the data acquisition is 100% guided, this task doesn’t require a highly skilled operator. The technician merely selects an inspection plan, and is then guided through a step-by-step process from the probe and wedge validation, UT calibration (PCS and sensitivity calibration for TOFD, element and wedge check, DAC / TCG curve recording for PA), scanner settings and calibration and is then guided.

Acquiring the Inspection Data

The inspection data, for each weld, is simply acquired by following the inspection plan and the different TOFD and PA passes calculated by the IPC. After each pass the software will propose the next weld or pass to inspect to help the operator to use the best, more productive way in the inspection plan. Data can be exported, for one pass, one weld or for the complete inspection plan, for analysis and reporting at any time during the inspection.

Analyzing the Inspection Data

All inspection data is communicated to an analysis station using the Rhythm software platform. Here the suitably qualified ultrasonic inspector can review and analyze the inspection data, using advanced analysis tools such as real time, volume-corrected imaging, as well as conventional digital tools features for image analysis, enhancement and measurement. In addition, a variety of measurement and viewing tools is contained within the analysis software.

Reporting

Expert interpretation of inspection results can be provided immediately and reports can be printed off in real time. This offers a very fast assessment of the weld status as feedback for weld repairs.

Archiving the Inspection Data

The inspection data are saved in the Rhythm Archive software, allowing to save the raw data with necessary tags. Input and retrieval of information is quick and easy. This accepts data from any number of LAN-connected, remote Rhythm Review workstations and stores them using various compression techniques to save storage space without sacrificing data quality.

Sharing the Inspection Data

All inspection data can be shared with other interested parties, either as enhanced imagery or as raw data. It can be transmitted to other Rhythm Review stations for third party
verification.

Turning information into intelligence and sharing inspection data across experts and
locations with ease!