This study investigates the practical impact of image focusing strategies in ultrasonic weld inspection, providing a direct comparison of the Total Focusing Method (TFM), Plane Wave Imaging (PWI), and Sectorial Plane Wave Imaging (SPWI). TFM achieves complete pixel-wise focusing, PWI focuses reception across multiple plane wave transmissions, and SPWI further streamlines the process by focusing reception on a single plane wave transmission per sector. This progressive reduction in focusing is offset by a substantial improvement in processing speed, with SPWI offering the fastest performance among the three techniques.

Experimental evaluations were conducted on steel weld specimens containing a range of defects-including lack of sidewall fusion, slag, porosity, toe crack, centreline crack, and root crack using TT-T and TT-TT full-skip modes. SPWI successfully identified all studied weld defects, including those requiring superior image focusing such as weld porosity, with image quality and defect positioning comparable to TFM and PWI.

SPWI differs from Dynamic Depth Focusing (DDF) in its data acquisition and post-processing approach. While DDF relies on delayed firing and reception with multiple transmissions and reception delay laws to achieve focusing at different depths often limited by hardware constraints SPWI stores individual element responses for each plane wave excitation and performs pixel-wise image reconstruction in real time processing. This enables SPWI to achieve superior image resolution and multimode capability with significantly fewer transmissions and higher frame rates than DDF.

Overall, SPWI emerges as a viable advanced multimode inspection technique, enabling faster weld inspections without significant compromise in image quality. These results support the adoption of SPWI as an efficient alternative to conventional phased array sector scan, PWI and TFM for industrial weld inspection for faster inspection, where inspection speed and operational efficiency are critical.

This presentation introduces advanced methodologies for ultrasonic testing (UT) in immersion applications using raster scanning combined with Adaptive Total Focusing Method (ATFM) and Adaptive Plane Wave Imaging (APWI). Traditional phased array techniques rely on pre-calculated focal laws, which can fail on complex or unknown geometries, leading to poor resolution and inaccurate depth measurements. Adaptive algorithms overcome these limitations by dynamically estimating surface profiles and recalculating focal laws in real time, enabling precise imaging even on curved or irregular parts. We demonstrate the integration of these adaptive techniques with high-speed rastered immersion scanning for plates and billets, achieving significant improvements in resolution and inspection efficiency. Case studies include stainless steel, titanium, and nickel calibration components, relevant to aerospace, jet engine, billet, plate, and additive manufacturing, to name just a few possible applications. The results confirm that adaptive imaging enhances reliability and throughput for industrial NDT, paving the way for next-generation immersion inspection systems.

Evolution of Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) continues to redefine how pipeline girth welds are inspected. This presentation introduces the PipeWIZARD iX, Evident’s next-generation AUT solution designed specifically for girth weld inspection—bringing together enhanced mechanics, intelligent software, and workflow optimized for real-world field conditions. With a compact, integrated design and user-friendly setup, PipeWIZARD iX simplifies deployment without compromising inspection quality.

On the software side, PipeWIZARD iX streamlines the inspection process with features such as automated calibration, assisted defect sizing, and automatic indication detection. Integrated BeamTool support enables efficient zonal setup creation, allowing operators to configure scans quickly and accurately.

The platform also supports open data formats and customizable reporting, ensuring seamless integration into asset integrity workflows and inspection databases. These capabilities not only improve productivity in the field but also enhance consistency, traceability, and data usability for advanced post processing. These enhancements mark a clear advancement in AUT technology—delivering an agile, intelligent, and operator-friendly solution that keeps pace with the demands of modern pipeline construction.