Wave–Defect Interaction Mechanisms Governing PAUT and TFM Detectability of Safety-Critical Planar Weld Cracks
Faculty Mentor
Hossein Taheri
Location
Russell Union Ballroom
Type of Research
Completed
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering & Computing
Department
Manufacturing Engineering
Abstract
Planar defects such as root cracks, toe cracks, and lack of fusion are among the most safety-critical discontinuities in AWS D1.5 structural welds due to their strong influence on fracture initiation and fatigue failure. Reliable detection of these defects is essential for accurate structural integrity assessment. Although advanced ultrasonic inspection techniques such as Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and the Total Focusing Method (TFM) are widely used in weld inspection, the physical mechanisms governing their detection responses for planar flaws remain insufficiently understood. This study presents a physics-based investigation of PAUT and TFM detectability for planar weld defects in AWS D1.5-compliant steel weldments using combined experimental inspection and ultrasonic simulation. Controlled inspections were conducted on weld specimens containing planar defects under identical inspection parameters. Detection performance was evaluated using signal amplitude response, required gain levels, and defect boundary definition. Physics-based ultrasonic simulations were performed to analyze wave–defect interaction mechanisms, including crack-tip diffraction, scattering, and energy redistribution. Results demonstrate that TFM provides clearer responses for planar defects at lower gain levels compared to PAUT, while also identifying defect geometries that remain challenging for ultrasonic detection. The findings provide physics-informed insight for optimizing ultrasonic inspection strategies for safety-critical planar weld defects.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Irtiza, Chowdhury MD, "Wave–Defect Interaction Mechanisms Governing PAUT and TFM Detectability of Safety-Critical Planar Weld Cracks" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 154.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/154
Wave–Defect Interaction Mechanisms Governing PAUT and TFM Detectability of Safety-Critical Planar Weld Cracks
Russell Union Ballroom
Planar defects such as root cracks, toe cracks, and lack of fusion are among the most safety-critical discontinuities in AWS D1.5 structural welds due to their strong influence on fracture initiation and fatigue failure. Reliable detection of these defects is essential for accurate structural integrity assessment. Although advanced ultrasonic inspection techniques such as Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) and the Total Focusing Method (TFM) are widely used in weld inspection, the physical mechanisms governing their detection responses for planar flaws remain insufficiently understood. This study presents a physics-based investigation of PAUT and TFM detectability for planar weld defects in AWS D1.5-compliant steel weldments using combined experimental inspection and ultrasonic simulation. Controlled inspections were conducted on weld specimens containing planar defects under identical inspection parameters. Detection performance was evaluated using signal amplitude response, required gain levels, and defect boundary definition. Physics-based ultrasonic simulations were performed to analyze wave–defect interaction mechanisms, including crack-tip diffraction, scattering, and energy redistribution. Results demonstrate that TFM provides clearer responses for planar defects at lower gain levels compared to PAUT, while also identifying defect geometries that remain challenging for ultrasonic detection. The findings provide physics-informed insight for optimizing ultrasonic inspection strategies for safety-critical planar weld defects.
