• the high productivity due to multi-channel testing method;
• the automatic watch for contact quality;
• the exception of subjective effect;
• the automatic measurement of the conditional and equivalent flaw dimensions;
• the documentation of testing results;
• the decreasing of the adversity effect for the staff (doses of radiation for the nuclear power engineering objects).

• the determination of real flaw dimensions;
• the identification of flaws, undetected by in-service testing;
• the possibility to observe the detected flaw condition;
• the strength calculation of construction.

The flaw detection and estimation of their admissibility by subject methods.

The flaw measurement and determination of their real parameters (dimensions, types, orientation) after the in-service testing of the detected flaw coordinates

The determination of strength characteristics of pipelines, using the expert testing results (it is performed by special-purpose organizations).

The pipeline repair or its exploitation

The observation of the detected flaw growth

The computer ultrasonic "Augur 4.2” system, was developed for this concept practical realization. The system was certified and its use was permitted at Russian Nuclear Power Plants (NPP).

The “Augur 4.2” system principal difference from the usual flaw detector is in using of coherent data treatment of A-scans for flaw image realization. The substance of coherent data treatment of A-scans is that, as a result of mathematical treatment of A-scans, the image is formed which is possible to receive by the ultrasonic focused beam, which is not divergent along the whole depth of object. The using of coherent data treatment is leaded to the improvement of the resolution, which becomes independent from the weld thickness, against the resolution of traditional testing, which is decreased linearly with the weld thickness increase. The high resolution of system let determine exactly the flaw coordinates, their dimensions and types, conclude soundly about their degree of danger for constructions.

The multifrequency ultrasonic method of acoustical holography, used in ultrasonic computer “Augur 4.2” system, is a new access to the strength analysis of pipeline welded joints, when each detected flaw is taken into account.

System control, registration, accumulation, treatment and representation of testing data

Formation of pulses and registration of A-scans

Cable up to 100 meters length

Adjustment of signals and driver control

Two-axes transducer movement

Firstly, high resolution - across and along beam - of restored images and its exceptional noise immunity.

Secondly, completely new quality of information about flaw. You answer on the question: “What type and size is the flaw detected?”, investigating 3-dimensional flaw image in the coordinate system referred to the tested object.

Thirdly, the restored image can be documented and evaluated in detail at anytime with the help of rich number of service programs.

In the fourth place, the accurate flaw size determination allows you to have the document where strength of the tested product and its residual lifetime are shown. It allows You to take correct decision “To repair or not?”

In the fifth place, the repeated testing allows to watch after the detected flaw growth.

Character results of the “Augur 4.2” system using at the welded joint testing are shown on the figures. The tested joint and line of scanning by the angle beam ultrasonic transducer are schematically shown on fig.5. B-type and D-type images of flaw, superposed with the welded joint contours, are shown on the fig.6. B-type and C-type images of two pointed lacks of fusion at the welded joint border are shown on fig.7. The detailed analysis of the restored 3-dimensional flaw image at the welded joint root permitted to determine exactly of its dimensions and strength calculations show that there is no need to repair this joint.

The results of automatic in-service and expert testing are shown in the table. The 10% of flaws only, detected by hand testing and amenable to repair, are really danger for construction. The other 90% of welded joints are reliable for exploitation.

The new concept realization of welded joint condition diagnostics permits to spare the considerable investments for account of decrease of volumes of unjustified repair works.

The calibrating system “Augur 4.4” is intended to get ultrasonic transducer certificate for serial transducer production, to check transducer quality during its exploitation and to investigate properties of newly developed transducers. It is possible to have transducer certificate after only one simple experiment by echo-signal registration in standard sample SO-2.

From this time You shouldn't use many expensive devices, special samples and spend many time to perform measurements and to receive by hand the transducer certificate.

The system allows to determine such important for practice work transducer characteristics as individual DAC-curve, direction diagram, frequency spectrum.

More than 50 types of different piezoelectric transducers are developed and are now in serial production. Great number of straight, angle beam, focusing, TR-type “Augur” series piezoelectric transducers permits to solve the different ultrasonic testing problems not only in metals, but also in composite materials.

• is featured by increased sensitivity and improved reverberation characteristics;
• have matching circuits mounted in transducer cases for any flaw detector;
• have individual certificate containing comprehensive acoustical characteristics;
• are supplied by“LEMO” or BNC type plugs.

The special transducers for testing of materials with structural noise, immersion transducers for automatic testing of oil- and gas-pipelines are developed besides the traditional transducers.

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