Author: Ing. Carlos Álvarez, September 30, 2023.
Introduction
In the world of nondestructive inspection, guided wave technology has seen significant advancement in recent years. This technique has evolved rapidly, and current trends in NDT focus on automation and advanced data analysis to improve efficiency and accuracy in defect detection.
En este artículo, se exponen los avances más destacadas sobre esta técnicay cómo están revolucionando las industrias que dependen de esta tecnología.
What are Guided Waves?
They are mechanical or acoustic vibrations that propagate along a structure, such as pipes, ducts or bars, without leaving it. These waves can be used to inspect and evaluate the integrity of the structure without damaging or disassembling it. This technique is especially valuable in industrial applications where safety and asset integrity are critical. It detects corrosion immediately, prevents spills, inspects oil and gas pipelines, buried pipelines, and improves pipeline integrity 1 .
NDT Automation by Guided Waves
The most notable advances in these tests using this technique are the automation and advanced data analysis of the inspection processes. Previously, guided wave inspection required manual intervention by highly trained technicians. However, with the advancement of technology, automated systems have been developed that can carry out inspections continuously and without the need for constant supervision 2 .
Advantages of automation
Efficiency: Automated systems can operate 24/7, increasing inspection efficiency and reducing labor costs 3 .
Consistency: Automation ensures that the same inspection procedures are followed at all times, improving the consistency of results.
Risk Reduction: By eliminating worker exposure to potentially hazardous environments, safety risks are reduced.
Advanced data analysis
Guided wave data collection has reached an unprecedented level thanks to automation. However, the real revolution occurs in the analysis of this data. The use of machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques has made it possible to identify patterns and anomalies more accurately and quickly than ever before.
Applications of Advanced Data Analysis:
Defect Detection: Automatic algorithms can identify incipient defects more accurately, helping prevent catastrophic failures.
Predictive Maintenance: Data analytics can be used to predict when preventative maintenance is needed, reducing unplanned downtime.
Process optimization: By better learning the performance of structures, companies can optimize their production processes and minimize waste.
Integration in the Industry
Guided wave technology is being integrated into a wide range of industries. Some notable examples include:
1. Industria petrolera y gas: En la industria petrolera y gas, la inspección por esta técnica se usa para evaluar la integridad de las tuberías enterradas y las estructuras offshore. La automatización y el análisis de datos avanzados son esenciales para prevenir derrames y garantizar la seguridad de las instalaciones.
2. Energía: En el sector energético, las plantas nucleares y las instalaciones de generación de energía dependen en gran medida de la tecnología para detectar defectos en componentes críticos. La automatización mejora la fiabilidad de estas inspecciones.
The Future of Guided Waves in NDT
Trends in Guided Wave Non-Destructive Testing point to an exciting future. As technology continues to advance, you can expect:
Greater accuracy: Data analysis algorithms will continue to improve, allowing for more accurate defect detection.
More Applications: The technology will expand into new industries and applications as its effectiveness is proven.
More advanced predictive maintenance: The ability to predict failures and proactively perform maintenance will be even more accurate, minimizing costs and increasing safety.
Conclusion
In summary, new advances in Non-Destructive Testing by guided waves point towards automation and advanced data analysis as fundamental pillars of the evolution of this technology. As industries continue to recognize the benefits of these trends, we are likely to see significant increases in efficiency and safety across a wide variety of critical industrial applications.
Bibliographic references
- TESTEK GROUP. Do you know everything you can do with GUL and guided waves?; Consulted on September 27, 2023; https://www.testekndt.net/sabes-todo-lo-que-trabajos-hacer-con-gul-y-ondas-guiadas/
- GUIDED ULTRASONIC LIMITED. Monitoring for enhanced profitability and compliance; Consulted on September 28, 2023; https://www.guided-ultrasonics.com/monitoring/
- PETER CAWLEY, FREDERIC CEGLA AND ANDREA GALVAGNI. Guided waves for NDT and permanently installed monitoring; Consulted on September 28, 2023; https://www.ndt.net/article/wcndt2012/papers/590_wcndtfinal00589.pdf
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