I will be discussing the use of ultrasonic nondestructive testing by the military. “Defending the national interest requires the use of sophisticated artillery, technologies and equipment. These defense systems are subject to a high degree of stress whether they are missile systems, or the jets and naval vessels that launch those systems. A flaw or weak spot caused by corrosion or wear can cause a critical component to fail and damage a serious investment. Nondestructive testing (NDT) for the military and defense industry is an indispensable part of fielding and maintaining these systems. Nondestructive testing for the military is widespread and essential. It ranges from relatively straightforward NDT such as ultrasonic testing of welds aboard naval vessels to the testing of complex aerospace components that combine metals and composite materials. In either case, the safety of the sailors, soldiers, marines, and airmen who operate these systems depends on regularly performed military NDT” (Nondestructive Testing for the Military).
According to Military Nondestructive Testing, various methods of nondestructive testingultrasonic, eddy current, magnetic particle, radiographic, liquid penetrant, laser testing, and leak testingallow military personnel to inspect infrastructure, vessels, vehicles, and weapons systems for flaws, corrosion, and other defects which could lead to failure and endanger the lives of servicemen and servicewomen (Safety Precautions).
Ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) is a method used to characterize the internal volumes of materials. It works by propagating high-frequency sound waves well above the range of human hearing throughout the material. It can be used to detect flaws and discontinuities in metals, composites, and other materials. “High-frequency sounds travel through a uniform medium until they reach a discontinuity that reflects them backsuch as air or fluid at the other side of the materialor incongruity in the matrix of the material. These reflected waves can be resolved into visual images that allow an ultrasonic testing technician to see flaws in the material, determine if corrosion is present, or detect corrosion eroding the thickness of the material. Ultrasonic testing works well for contiguous materials like metals, but not as well for materials where discontinuities are part of their normal makeup like wood, wood composites, or paper materials” (A Comprehensive Guide).
Some types of ultrasonic nondestructive testing are: Straight Beam, Angle Beam, Immersion Testing, Phased Array, Time of Flight Diffraction, Total Focusing Method (TFM), and Guided Waves. (Please visit https://www.zetec.com/resources/ultrasonic-testing-overview/ for a full description of how each of these testing is done.
Douglas Norman
References
Military and Defense Solution. Nondestructive Testing for the Military and Defense. N.D.
https://www.zetec.com/industries/military-defense-solutions/
Military Nondestructive Testing. Safety Precautions. N.D.
https://www.zetec.com/blog/military-nondestructive-testing-safety-precautions/#:~:text=The%20various%20methods%20of%20nondestructive%20testing%E2%80%94ultrasonic%2C%20eddy%20current%2C,and%20endanger%20the%20lives%20of%20servicemen%20and%20servicewomen.
Ultrasonic Testing Overview: A Comprehensive Guide to UT. N.D.
https://www.zetec.com/resources/ultrasonic-testing-overview/
