Instantaneous Phase Coherence Imaging (IPCI) or, simply Phase Coherence Imaging (PCI) is a recent NDT technique developed for imaging of small UT indications like crack tips, inclusions or porosities in the welds. Derived from the wider used technique of Total Focusing Method (TFM) and Full Matrix Capture (FMC), PCI relies on phase information rather than amplitude to enhance diffracted signals coming from discontinuities in the area of interest. In (1) the authors have already explained the benefits of PCI over more traditional techniques like Time Of Flight Diffraction (TOFD) on theoretical models and laboratory data. The current study aims to extend the previous work on PCI by applying it to a larger number of real-life pipeline construction welds.
A 48in pipeline construction project represented a good opportunity to asses the benefits of Phase Coherence in a real-life project. One of the qualified and approved methods for the inspection of the 48in OD pipeline welds is Phased Array Ultrasound (PAUT) in conjunction with Time Of Flight Diffraction (TOFD).
The current study will include the analysis of more than 100 welds during the construction phase of the pipeline. The data files will be acquired using the qualified PA/TOFD method, while additional files will be generated on the same welds by using the TFM/PCI techniques.
The analysis of the results will consider several parameters like acquisition time, accuracy of detection and sizing of indications in the TFM/PCI data with respect to the qualified PA/TOFD method.

References
(1) Gauthier, B.; Painchaud-April, G.; Le Duff, A.; Bélanger, P. Towards an Alternative to Time of Flight Diffraction Using Instantaneous Phase Coherence Imaging for Characterization of Crack-Like Defects. Sensors 2021, 21, 730. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21030730