Discover the I-Weld project, a collaboration between renowned partners such as EDF, CEA, and Transvalor SA. The article presents the use of the TRANSWELD® tool coupled with CAFE to provide virtual maps usable by the CIVA software. The project aims to significantly improve the use of ultrasonic-based NDT on weld control in the energy sector.
State-of-the-art ultrasonic imaging methods assume a constant and isotropic speed of sound waves to relate echoes and flight times associated with indications in the inspected part. However, in austenitic welds, this assumption is false: the propagation speed varies depending on the local crystallographic orientation of the grains, as well as the propagation direction. This impacts imaging and leads to localization errors of indications, as well as a reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio.
The idea of the project is to take into account the local crystallographic orientation of the grains to predict the impact on the wave path. Metallurgical analyses that allow such mappings are lengthy and expensive, so a digital twin seems faster and less costly while providing a good order of magnitude.
We propose a description of the project and the consortium, a presentation of the TRANSWELD® tool coupled with CAFE to provide usable maps by the CIVA software, developed by CEA and distributed by EXTENDE, allowing the prediction of the interaction between ultrasonic waves and grains, as well as their orientations.
This project aims to close a technological gap in the use of ultrasonic-based NDT on weld control in the energy sector, particularly in nuclear power. Digital tools play a fundamental role in this technical adventure.
Partners: Electricité de France (EDF) (France), University of Southampton (United Kingdom), CEA (France), Transvalor SA (France), University of Stuttgart (USTUTT) (Germany), Imperial College London (ICL) (United Kingdom), Extende (France), Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)
