Hamed Bouzary - MSc student, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology;
Farhang Honarvar - Professor, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology;
Sara Maghami - MSc student, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology;

Ultrasound guided wave testing is a novel technique for inspection of various waveguides including pipe structures. Guided waves are ultrasonic waves that propagate differently from the more commonly known bulk waves. The use of axisymmetric guided modes has shown advantages of good penetration and good sensitivity. For a better understanding of the propagation and reflection of these waves in pipe structures, an experimental study of non-axisymmetric modes is carried out in this paper. The bubbler immersion ultrasonic testing technique, which incorporates a plastic wedge, provides a specific incident angle for the transducer. This specific incident angle produces the desired L(0,2) mode in the pipe, although some other flexural modes are also generated due to beam spreading. Using this setup, experiments are conducted on a steel pipe and the results are reported. Additionally, a wavelet analysis used to enhance the sensitivity of the approach. The non-axisymmetric ultrasonic guided waves seem to be a faster and simpler approach for inspection of pipe structures.

ultrasonic guided waves, non-axisymmetric, immersion testing, pipe, wavelet analysis