New Q&A Books Test Knowledge of PAUT and TOFD

Two of ASNT’s newest publications highlight the growth and importance of the ultrasonic testing method (UT), giving UT practitioners the chance to hone their skill set in specific techniques that are widely used throughout industry.

The new ASNT Questions & Answers Book: Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and ASNT Questions & Answers Book: Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) delve deeper into these two techniques, providing Level II and III questions based on the recommended outlines from the latest edition of ANSI/ASNT CP-105: ASNT Standard Topical Outlines for Qualification of Nondestructive Testing Personnel. Q&A Book: Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing also includes a special section on full matrix capture.

As the technology and capability of these techniques continues to grow, their use and importance to the NDT industry will continue to increase as well.

“TOFD application has been improved through improvement of instruments, techniques, and personnel qualification, which has resulted in wider feasible application of TOFD. Further future improvements will expand the use of TOFD to more industries and wider applications around the world,” said Nat Faransso, technical editor of Q&A Book: Time of Flight Diffraction.

“PAUT is both a developed and emerging field with new applications still under research. As computational power continues to increase, the applicability of phased array techniques based on post processing of data, as well as that of the full matrix capture and total focusing method, will become more viable. This transition of technology from the laboratory to the field will allow for increased ease of inspection, the inspection of more complex materials and geometries, as well the potential for adaptive imaging techniques where minimal setup is required,” said Andrew Ouellette, technical editor of Q&A Book: Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing.

These books address a growing need in the industry for qualified technicians in these techniques, as well as a need for more resources to help technicians study and evaluate their knowledge.

“Phased array continues to be an invaluable inspection technique, expanding the capability, speed, and applicability of traditional ultrasonic techniques. With the extent of existing inspection procedures employing phased array and the continued development, it is of vital importance to have qualified individuals to perform, maintain, and develop these techniques and the resulting inspection procedures,” said Ouellette.

“Despite improvements in personnel qualification, which is essential to the appropriate application of TOFD, there is still a great need for training and certification of personnel. Unfortunately, there is a lack of training and study material, and ASNT as a leader in the NDE industry is the most qualified organization to promote the training and study material badly needed to meet the need of the industry,” said Faransso.

Q&A Book: Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing and Q&A Book: Time of Flight Diffraction are currently available for sale in the ASNT Store. The books can also be purchased in a package along with the latest edition of ASNT Questions and Answers Book: Ultrasonic Testing Method. Visit the ASNT Store at asnt.org/store.

_______

Haley Cowans is Educational Materials Editor at ASNT, hcowans@asnt.org.

For additional information on UT, PAUT, and TOFD, check out Nondestructive Testing Handbook, Vol. 7: Ultrasonic Testing, third edition and ASNT Level II Study Guide: Ultrasonic Testing Methods.