Design strategies for phased array ultrasound systems in mondestructive testing

The paper is intended to discuss the key techniques for improving the clarity and resolution of the images in phased array ultrasound systems. Based on the theory of the phased array system, the working mechanism and the system architecture are illustrated. The contributions of the array probe characters are emphatically examined. The design strategies of the ultrasound array element, the phase controlling technique, the analog and digital signal processing and the ultrasound imaging are emphatically introduced. Preliminary test shows that ultrasound phased array system has better signal-noise ratio, more sensitive to defects, wider testing range and higher working efficiency than conventional single element ultrasound NDT testing system.