Automated Ultrasonic Testing (AUT) – Level II

Automated ultrasonic testing provides fast, recorded and highly repeatable volumetric examination of welds, particularly pipeline girth welds and heavy-wall fabrications. This ten-day Level II course develops the knowledge and skill required to set up, calibrate and operate AUT systems that combine phased array and time-of-flight diffraction, and to analyze the resulting data. Participants study the zone-discrimination concept and scan-plan design, probe and scanner operation, instrument and software settings, and the factors that affect detection and sizing. Extensive practical sessions lead to independent data interpretation and evaluation against code acceptance criteria.

Who Should Attend

• UT and PAUT Level II technicians progressing to automated systems
• Pipeline construction NDT technicians and crew leaders
• QA/QC engineers and inspectors overseeing AUT contractors
• NDT Level III candidates seeking practical AUT exposure

Learning Outcomes

• Explain ultrasonic theory as applied to PAUT and TOFD in automated systems
• Design a zone-discrimination scan plan for a given weld bevel and wall thickness
• Set up probes, scanners, encoders and instrument software for data acquisition
• Calibrate the system using reference blocks and verify sensitivity and coverage
• Interpret AUT and TOFD data and size indications in height and length
• Evaluate results against acceptance criteria and complete examination reports

Course Outline

• Module 1 — Basic Theory of Ultrasonics: wave propagation, beam characteristics and attenuation.
• Module 2 — PAUT and TOFD Principles: focal laws, diffraction, dead zones and complementary use.
• Module 3 — Zone-Discrimination Concept and Scan Plan: bevel geometry, zoning and coverage.
• Module 4 — Phased Array Probe Operation: probe characteristics and factors affecting detection.
• Module 5 — Instrument Operation and Software Settings: gates, channels, encoders and data acquisition.
• Module 6 — Calibration and System Verification: reference blocks, sensitivity and coupling checks.
• Module 7 — Data Analysis and Sizing: strip charts, TOFD images, characterization and sizing.
• Module 8 — Acceptance and Reporting: workmanship and ECA-based criteria and documentation.

Standards & References

Course content draws on ISO 13588 (Use of Automated Phased Array Technology); ISO 17640 (Ultrasonic Testing of Welds — Techniques, Testing Levels and Assessment); ISO 11666 (Ultrasonic Testing of Welds — Acceptance Levels); ASTM E2373 (Use of the Ultrasonic Time of Flight Diffraction Technique); ASTM E1961 (Mechanized Ultrasonic Examination of Girth Welds Using Zonal Discrimination); EN 14751 (Use of Time-of-Flight Diffraction Technique); and ISO 9712 (Qualification and Certification of NDT Personnel). Participants are introduced to the scope and application of each document; the current edition should always be consulted for project work.

Assessment & Certification

The program comprises 80 contact hours (10 days) of instruction. Assessment consists of written general and specific examinations and a practical examination involving system setup, data acquisition and evaluation of a flawed weld sample. Training hours are documented to support certification schemes; this course does not itself confer third-party NDT certification. Successful candidates receive an IIME Certificate of Training bearing a unique verification code, which can be verified online.