Ultrasonic Thickness Gauging
Ultrasound is used to measure the remaining wall thickness of a component. The time of flight of sound through the material and the known sound velocity allow accurate calculation of thickness.
Physical-Chemical Mechanism of Action
Ultrasonic waves are sent into the component and their time of flight is measured. Since the sound velocity in the material is known, the thickness of the component can be calculated using the formula Thickness = (Time of flight × Sound velocity).
Metallurgical Relevance & Risks in Welding
Ultrasonic thickness measurement is especially important for corrosion loss because it precisely determines the actual remaining thickness and detects potential cracks or changes in wall density. Incorrect measurements can lead to inaccurate results, posing risks to the structure.
Workshop Practice & Instructions
To measure thickness with ultrasound, use an ultrasonic device. The device sends sound waves into the component and measures the time of flight of the echo. The sound velocity for the specific material must be known. For steel, it's about 5900 m/s. Always measure at the same point and under the same conditions to get consistent results.