General Electric Company
Method and system for inspecting a rail profile using phased array technology

Abstract:

A method and system for inspecting a rail profile include using ultrasonic phased arrays. Determined anomalies, such as material flaws like volumetric defects and cracks, in a fluid-immersed rail profile are detected by employing one or more phased array probes located proximate the rail profile. Electronic delays and beam steering and focusing can be employed to tailor the inspection to the rail geometry.