Roller Probe Inspection

Dry-Scanning Using Roller Probes and Prisma

The through transmission inspection technique is a widely accepted method for assessment of composite honeycomb or foam core structures. This technique requires both surfaces to be accessible and the use of an instrument with C-scan capabilities. The Sonatest rolling tip probe has a special design with a circular emitting crystal. The pulsing (TX) and receiving (RX) probes need to be precisely positioned in front of each other and across the part to properly carry out the inspection. A fixture to hold the part may also help to facilitate probe alignment although the rolling tips make it easier to scan. The very low probe frequency enables dry inspections, which eliminate the need for water coupling. In addition, the probe is highly sensitive, which, combined with the high-quality signal provided by Sonatest instruments, enables complete and accurate inspections, even on foam core composite air-like structures.

The main advantages of this technique:

This technique ensures lower sound attenuation, mitigates dead zones, reduces recovery time and lowers sensitivity with respect to flaw orientation.