Application and assessment of ultrasonic inspection methods for flaw detection and characterization of manganese steel frogs

A. Cinson; A. Diaz; M. Prowant

doi:10.1117/12.881987

18 April 2011 Application and assessment of ultrasonic inspection methods for flaw detection and characterization of manganese steel frogs

A. Cinson, A. Diaz, M. Prowant

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7983, Nondestructive Characterization for Composite Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Infrastructure, and Homeland Security 2011; 79830Z (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.881987
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ultrasonic nondestructive examination (NDE) has a long and successful history of application across a wide array of industries, including nuclear, aerospace, and transportation sectors. In coarse-grained, cast Manganese (Mn) steel frog components, NDE/inspection challenges are encountered both in-field (after the frogs have been installed on a rail line) and at the manufacturing facilities during post-fabrication QA/QC activities. Periodically inherently flawed frogs are received from a manufacturer, and put into service, as most railroad operators do not have a means to conduct pre-service examinations on received components. Accordingly, there is a need for a pre-service inspection system that can provide a rapid, cost-effective and non-intrusive inspection capability for detection of defects, flaws, and other anomalies in frog components, in order to avoid premature initiation of cracks or failures of these components during service. This study focused on evaluating use of a volumetric phased-array ultrasonic testing (PA-UT) method to monitor fabrication quality assurance. In this preliminary assessment of using PA-UT, data were acquired at a frequency of 2.0 MHz on a known, flawed Mn steel frog component directly from a manufacturing facility. The component contained flaws commonly found as a result of the manufacturing process of these cast rail components. The data were analyzed and the anomalies were detected, localized and characterized. Results were compared against baseline radiographic data. A detection metric was reported in the form of signal-to-noise values.

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A. Cinson, A. Diaz, and M. Prowant "Application and assessment of ultrasonic inspection methods for flaw detection and characterization of manganese steel frogs", Proc. SPIE 7983, Nondestructive Characterization for Composite Materials, Aerospace Engineering, Civil Infrastructure, and Homeland Security 2011, 79830Z (18 April 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.881987

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KEYWORDS

Inspection

Ultrasonics

Manganese

Manufacturing

Phased arrays

Signal to noise ratio

Data acquisition

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