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SECTION 6

SELECTION OF TEST PARAMETERS

© 2017 Plant Integrity Limited


Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

CONTENTS

6. SELECTION OF TEST PARAMETERS 3


6.1 Selection of Optimum Test Frequency for Guided Waves 3
6.1.1 Longitudinal Waves 3
6.1.2 Torsional Waves 6
6.1.3 Lower Frequency Limit 6
6.1.4 Upper Frequency Limit 6
6.1.5 Effect of the Transducer Tool 7

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Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

6. SELECTION OF TEST PARAMETERS

This section covers some basic information as to how and why the Teletest software selects
the test schedule for a particular diameter/thickness combination. It is included here to give
the Level 1 operator an appreciation of the processes involved. Detailed information is
taught on the Level 2 course.

6.1 Selection of Optimum Test Frequency for Guided Waves

6.1.1 Longitudinal Waves


When using L(0,2) waves with a three transducer ring tool system, the optimum test
frequency is selected to achieve:

1. Suppression of the accompanying L(0,1) waves.


2. Enhancement of L(0,2).
3. No dispersion of L(0,2).

The factors which affect the selection are:

1. The pipe outside diameter.


2. The pipe wall thickness.
3. The ring spacing.
4. The known Pipe condition e.g. viscous contents.

Looking at dispersion, taking one particular example, the inspection of an 12” pipe with
9.53mm wall thickness, the dispersion curves for the L(0,1), L(0,2), F(1,3), T(0,1) and F(1,2)
guided waves are shown in Fig 6.1. These curves illustrate that there is little or no dispersion
over the range shown for the Longitudinal wave mode and therefore are suitable conditions
for Guided Wave inspection.

Range

Figure 6.1 - Family of dispersion curves for specific pipe OD and wall thickness
The dispersion curves in this case are of phase velocity against frequency and have been
derived by calculation. The phase velocity is used rather than the group velocity and
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Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

therefore the velocities tend towards infinity at zero frequency, which is opposite to the case
with group velocity.
The phase velocity is the velocity with which two successive points of constant phase in a
wave move pass the measuring point. The group velocity is the velocity of the pulse passing
the measuring point Fig 6.2.

Figure 6.2 - Difference between Phase and Group velocity

If the wave is non-dispersive, the phase and group velocities are the same.
To destructively interfere with the L(0,1) wave, the space between the inner and two outer
rings must be equal to one wavelength of the L(0,1) wave. Since V=f*λ, λ can be found from
the dispersion curve for L(0,1) in Fig 6.1. The optimum frequency becomes the frequency at
which phase velocity divided by frequency is equal to the ring spacing.
The pipe diameter has almost no effect on the optimum frequency for L(0,1) suppression,
the determining factor being pipe wall thickness. Fig 6.3 shows the optimum frequency for a
range of pipe wall thickness on curves for 30mm and 46mm ring spacing. Generally, the
thicker the pipe wall, the higher the optimum test frequency for L(0,1) suppression, the
increase becoming markedly less as the ring spacing increases.

Figure 6.3 - Optimum frequency for L(0,1) Suppression vs. pipe thickness.
The L(0,2) waves are travelling at almost twice the velocity of the L(0,1) waves, so the ring
spacing for suppressing L(0,1) waves has the effect of enhancing the L(0,2) waves.

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Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

However, the relationship between L(0,1) suppression and L(0,2) enhancement is non linear
and is also frequency dependent. Fig 6.4 shows how the peak output frequency for L(0,2)
waves from the three-ring tool varies with ring spacing.

Longitudinal Output (L0,2)

-6
Output (dB)

-12

-18

-24

-30
0 20 40 60 80 100
Frequency (kHz)

3 Ring 30mm 3 Ring 46mm

Figure 6.4 – Effect of frequency on L(0,2) longitudinal wave output for different
ring spacing

Test frequencies where there is a low output of L(0,2) waves must be avoided, for example
at 60KHz with a 46mm ring spacing. Generally, the maximum output is at lower frequencies
for wide ring spacing than for narrow ring spacing. This is unfortunate, since thicker sections
require wider spacing and higher frequencies for L(0,1) suppression.
Finally, a test frequency must be selected where the L(0,2) waves are non-dispersive. The
dispersion curve must therefore be flat. This occurs in Fig 6.1 in the highlighted range.
The conditions for L(0,1) suppression, L(0,2) enhancement for the available ring spacings of
30mm and 46mm are shown in Fig 6.5.

Figure 6.5 – Chart for selecting optimum test frequency

The area shaded green on Fig 6.5 illustrates the range of optimum test frequency for a given
thickness when using the longitudinal wave mode. Table 6.1, overleaf, summarises the
information displayed in Fig 6.5

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Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

Ring spacing mm Max. usable Max. pipe wall Thickness range


frequency kHz thickness mm for L(0,2) –3dB
output

30 88 17.5 3.5 to 10

46 58 26.5 4.5 to 15

Table 6.1 Factors for setting optimum test frequency

6.1.2 Torsional Waves


For the T(0,1) torsional mode, a lower cut off does not exist, but there are limits imposed by
the associated flexural modes.

A considerable advantage of the torsional wave system is that the T(0,1) mode is non-
dispersive at all frequencies in the range of interest. This implies that there is a very wide
range of acceptable frequencies for which the Torsional waves may be used. Whilst the
usable range is generally wider than that for Longitudinal waves, there are limiting factors.

6.1.3 Lower Frequency Limit


Fig 6.6 shows that at lower frequencies both the L(0,2) and F(1,3) modes in the longitudinal
system become highly dispersive and are not easily used for inspection. In the torsional
system, whilst the T(0,1) wave mode is non-dispersive down to very low frequencies, the
F(1,2) mode (which is the Torsional equivalent of F(1,3) does become dispersive as the
frequency is reduced.

12”∅ 9.53mm WT

F(1,3)

L(0,2)

F(1,2)

T(0,1)

L(0,1)

Figure 6.6 - Dispersion curves for 12 inch diameter, 9.53 mm wall pipe

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Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

6.1.4 Upper Frequency Limit


Although the T(0,1) mode is non-dispersive, the next order torsional mode, T(0,2) is highly
dispersive in the frequency range of interest. It is therefore necessary to know the cut off
frequency for this mode for the pipe size under test. This cut off is dependent on pipe
thickness and the relationship is shown in Fig 6.7. This therefore represents the maximum
frequency which it is possible to use for testing using the T(0,1) mode.

T(0,2) cut off frequency

180.0

160.0

140.0
Frequency kHz

120.0

100.0

80.0

60.0

40.0

20.0

0.0
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Thickness mm

Figure 7.7 - Maximum usable frequency with thickness for torsional waves

6.1.5 Effect of the Transducer Tool


As for the Longitudinal system, the output pulse of ultrasound is generated by a combination
of several rings of transducer elements. Whilst there is no wave mode corresponding to the
L(0,1) longitudinal mode, so that the selection of frequency is not as restricted as for
longitudinal wave testing, the output characteristics of the transducer array still need to be
considered. Fig 6.8 shows the relationship between frequency and output for a variety of test
conditions. Table 6.2 shows the usable output ranges.

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Guided Wave Pipe Inspection

Torsional Output T(0,1)

-6
Output (dB)

-12

-18

-24

-30
0 20 40 60 80 100
Frequency (kHz)

2 Ring 30mm 3 Ring 30mm 3 Ring 45mm

Figure 6.8 – Torsional wave output

Ring numbers & Usable Maxima - 3 dB points - 6 dB points


spacing (kHz) (kHz) (kHz)
30mm - 2 Ring 27 14 - 41 10 - 45
30mm - 3 Ring 36 28 - 44 23 - 47
30mm - 3 Ring 72 65 - 79 62 - 85
45mm – 3 Ring 24 19 - 29 15 - 31
45mm – 3 Ring 48 43 - 53 41 - 57
Table 6.2 Output for torsional tools

As for the Longitudinal case, the higher the output amplitude the better the sensitivity. Again,
use of frequencies around the minima should be avoided as the pulse shape breaks down.

Fig 6.8 also shows that there are other maxima at higher frequencies. It is possible to use
these frequencies also, although the amplitude is lower.

It should be noted that the same cyclic behaviour occurs when 2-Ring excitation is used.
However, the maxima are at different frequencies and the amplitudes are 2/3 of those with
the 3 ring tools. A 3 ring Torsional mode tool is available for special applications.

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