Time of Flight Diffraction

(ToFD)
Topics

 What is ToFD

 History

 How does it work

 Applications

 Advantages

 Challenges

 Performance & Cost

 Conclusion
What is ToFD ?

 ToFD = Time of Flight Diffraction

 ToFD = Highly accurate Ultrasonic inspection

technology, principally intended for weld inspection

 Technology Design has also developed a rastered ToFD

application for effective area scanning
History

 ToFD discovered in the 1950’s by Maurice Silk & others of AEA

(UK)
 Developed in the early 1970’s by AEA (UK).
 Gained wider acceptance in the 1980/90’s by the efforts of
Sonomatic & others
 Equipment more portable and efficient in the 90’s – Technology
Design leads the way
 Development of QC codes in late 90’s/2K’s
How does ToFD work?
How it works
Reflection

PLANK
BRICK

Back
How it works cont’d
Diffraction

PLANK
BRICK
How it works cont’d
Diffraction Rx Tx

DEFECT
How it works cont’d
Practically

Rx Tx
How it works cont’d

Rx Tx

Lateral
Wave
+ Pos

Amplitude
dB

Time m seconds - Neg

How it works cont’d

Rx Tx

Diffracted
Signals
+ Pos

Amplitude
dB

Time seconds - Neg

How it works cont’d

Rx Tx

Backwall
Reflection
+ Pos

Amplitude
dB

Time seconds - Neg

How it works cont’d
Data Collection

Rx Tx
How it works cont’d
Phase Reversal
+ Pos

Amplitude
dB

- Neg
Time = µ seconds
or
Millimetres
How it works (cont’d)
Greyscale Image Presentation

ce
rfa
Su

Depth
e ct
f d ef
po
To al l
ckw
Ba

e ct
d ef
of
tt om
Bo

Length
 Depth/Time
µ Seconds or mm

ToFD Scan
Length mm
APPLICATIONS

 Critical plant items in construction and in-service

 Pressure Systems – Vessels, pipelines, pipe-work
 Storage facilities – Tanks, spheres
 Tubed Vessels - Boilers, Heat Exchangers, Condensers
 Service induced defects & structural damage
 Stress/chemically assisted micro-cracking - SCC, LTHA, HHA, SOHIC
 Corrosion/erosion profiling - especially weld root erosion
 Thick wall components > 300mm
 Clad/lining interface bond/cracking
 Fabrication QC - includes ‘in-situ’ construction
Advantages of ToFD

 Highly Accurate and Sensitive

 Increased Evidence

 Fast
 Comprehensive Coverage
 Meaningful Presentation
 Fast Reporting / Decision Making
 Permanent Record of All Parameters
 Offline Interpretation and Measurement
 Objective Assessment.
 Excellent Repeatability.
Challenges

 Reduced near surface resolution (approx. 3– 5mm)

 Additional B-scans necessary for transverse positioning

 Sees everything (down to grain structure) so interpretation can be complicated if

material/weld quality is poor

 Should not be used with conventional ultrasonic acceptance criteria

Performance & Cost

 Most validated of all NDT techniques - DDT trials in

UK, PISC (International), NIL (Netherlands), EPRI (US)

 TOFD outperformed other methods in trials

 Faster, safer and more cost effective

 Increased defect detection ability (POD) = safer, added value to plant

 Reduced ‘false calls’(FCR) = less repairs and production downtime

In Conclusion

 ToFD as an Inspection Tool Is:

• Fast
• Proven
• Cost Effective

 ToFD PROVIDES:
• High POD and Low FCR
• Accuracy
• Real-time Sentencing
• Transparent Recording of Results
• Permanent Record
• Repeatability
Thank you for your attention