An ultrasonic thickness gauge is a device used to measure the thickness of materials using ultrasonic waves. It is a non-destructive testing (NDT) tool that provides fast and accurate thickness measurements without the need for direct contact with the material being measured.
Ici’s an overview of a typical ultrasonic thickness gauge:
- Measurement Principle: Ultrasonic thickness gauges use the principle of ultrasonic sound waves. The gauge emits high-frequency sound waves (typically in the range of 1 à 20 MHz) into the material being measured. These sound waves travel through the material and reflect back from the opposite side or from a back wall. The gauge measures the time taken for the sound waves to travel and calculates the thickness based on the known velocity of sound in the material.
- Transducer: The ultrasonic thickness gauge consists of a handheld unit with a transducer or probe. The transducer generates the ultrasonic sound waves and also acts as a receiver to detect the reflected waves. The transducer is placed on the surface of the material being measured, and the gauge displays the thickness measurement on its screen.
- Display and Readout: The gauge has a digital display screen that shows the measured thickness in real-time. L'écran peut fournir des informations supplémentaires telles que des données statistiques, unités de mesure (par ex., millimeters or inches), et statut d'étalonnage. Some gauges also offer graphical displays for visualizing the thickness measurements.
- Measurement Range and Resolution: Ultrasonic thickness gauges come in various models with different measurement ranges and resolutions. La plage de mesure détermine les valeurs d'épaisseur maximale et minimale que la jauge peut mesurer avec précision, tandis que la résolution détermine le plus petit changement incrémentiel d'épaisseur que la jauge peut détecter.
- Calibration: To ensure accurate measurements, ultrasonic thickness gauges require calibration. Calibration involves setting the gauge to a known reference standard or a material with a known thickness and adjusting the gauge accordingly. Certaines jauges ont des fonctions d'étalonnage intégrées, tandis que d'autres nécessitent un étalonnage périodique par un laboratoire d'étalonnage certifié.
- Applications: Ultrasonic thickness gauges are widely used in industries such as manufacturing, metal fabrication, pétrole et gaz, pétrochimique, la production d'énergie, and maritime. They are used to measure the thickness of pipes, réservoirs, vessels, assiettes, and other structures made of various materials, y compris les métaux, plastiques, matériaux composites, et du verre. The gauge helps assess the structural integrity, monitor corrosion, detect thinning of materials, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
Additional features found in some ultrasonic thickness gauges include data logging, capacités de transfert de données, multiple measurement modes, adjustable sound velocity settings for different materials, et compatibilité avec les logiciels informatiques pour des analyses et des rapports plus approfondis.
Lors de la sélection d'une jauge d'épaisseur à ultrasons, il’s important to consider factors such as the material being measured, précision de mesure requise, plage de mesure, résolution, et toutes les normes ou réglementations spécifiques de l’industrie qui doivent être respectées.