Simulation and Data Processing for Ultrasonic Phased-arrays Applications

The use of phased-arrays techniques has considerably contributed to extend the domain of applications and the performances of ultrasonic methods on complex configurations. Their adaptability offers a great freedom for conceiving the inspection leading to a wide range of functionalities gathering electronic commutation, applications of different delay laws and so on. This advantage allows to circumvent the difficulties encountered with more classical techniques especially when the inspection is assisted by simulation at the different stages : probe design (optimization of the number and characteristics of the elements), evaluation of the performances in terms of flaw detection (zone coverage) and characterization, driving the array (computation of adapted delay laws) and finally analyzing the results (versatile model-based imaging tools allowing in particular to locate the data in the real space). The CEA is strongly involved in the development of efficient simulation-based tools adapted to these needs. In this communication we present the recent advances done at CEA in this field and show several examples of complex NDT phased arrays applications. On these cases we show the interest and the performances of simulation-helped array design, array-driving and data analysis.