Phased array simulation for evaluation of weld in offshore chain

Offshore chain may have the flaws such as the lack of fusion in the weld. The ultrasonic testing (UT) has performed to detect the lack of fusion in the weld. The conventional UT has been performed by the pulse-echo and/or tandem method; the probe is positioned on the straight part with cylindrical surface but has not completely secured the reliability of the flaw detection in the offshore chain. Phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) can generate the ultrasonic focused beam and sweep the ultrasonic beam with multiple angles, so it is possible to inspect the wide area on a fixed probe position. Therefore, PAUT can inspect the full area of the weld in the offshore chain as moved with single array probe in a finite area. The phased array probe is positioned off the straight part with the spherical surface. And, the procedure of PAUT and the criteria of the detection and sizing of the flaw are not established. In this study, ultrasonic beam generated with array probe in offshore chain is simulated with CIVA simulation software, and sound pressure distribution is analyzed for establishing the criteria of the flaw sizing.