SIST EN ISO 18563-3:2016

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2016
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Non-destructive testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array
equipment - Part 3: Combined systems (ISO 18563-3:2015)
Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung - Charakterisierung und Verifizierung der Ultraschall-
Prüfausrüstung mit phasengesteuerten Arrays - Teil 3: Vollständige Prüfsysteme (ISO
18563-3:2015)
Essais non destructifs - Caractérisation et vérification de l'appareillage ultrasonore multi-
éléments - Partie 3: Appareillage complet (ISO 18563-3:2015)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 18563-3:2015
ICS:
19.100 Neporušitveno preskušanje Non-destructive testing
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 18563-3
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 2015
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 19.100
English Version
Non-destructive testing - Characterization and verification
of ultrasonic phased array equipment - Part 3: Combined
systems (ISO 18563-3:2015)
Essais non destructifs - Caractérisation et vérification Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung - Charakterisierung und
de l'appareillage ultrasonore multi-éléments - Partie 3: Verifizierung der Ultraschall-Prüfausrüstung mit
Système complet (ISO 18563-3:2015) phasengesteuerten Arrays - Teil 3: Vollständige
Prüfsysteme (ISO 18563-3:2015)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 November 2015.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 18563-3:2015 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
European foreword
This document (EN ISO 18563-3:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 138 “Non-
destructive testing", the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR, in collaboration with Technical
Committee ISO/TC 135 "Non-destructive testing".
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2016, and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2016.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 18563-3:2015 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 18563-3:2015 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18563-3
First edition
2015-12-15
Non-destructive testing —
Characterization and verification of
ultrasonic phased array equipment —
Part 3:
Combined systems
Essais non destructifs — Caractérisation et vérification de
l’appareillage ultrasonore multi-éléments —
Partie 3: Système complet
Reference number
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
©
ISO 2015
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
© ISO 2015, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Tel. +41 22 749 01 11
Fax +41 22 749 09 47
copyright@iso.org
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Symbols . 2
5 General requirements for conformity . 3
6 Modes of operation . 4
7 Equipment required for tests . 8
8 Group 1 tests . 9
8.1 General . 9
8.2 Elements and channels . 9
8.2.1 General. 9
8.2.2 Channel assignment . 9
8.2.3 Relative sensitivity of elements .10
8.3 Beam characterization .12
8.3.1 General.12
8.3.2 Absence of saturation .13
8.3.3 Beam characterization for contact probes .14
8.3.4 Beam characterization for immersion probes .21
8.4 Imaging check .24
8.4.1 General.24
8.4.2 Reflector positioning .25
8.4.3 −6 dB spot size .25
8.4.4 Amplitude comparison .25
9 Group 2 tests .25
9.1 General .25
9.2 Visual inspection of equipment .26
9.2.1 Operating procedure .26
9.2.2 Acceptance criteria .26
9.3 Relative sensitivity of elements .26
9.3.1 General.26
9.3.2 Operating procedure .26
9.3.3 Identification of dead elements .27
9.3.4 Compensation of sensitivity variation .27
9.3.5 Acceptance criteria .27
9.4 Linearity of amplification system .27
9.4.1 Operating procedure .27
9.4.2 Acceptance criteria .27
9.5 Absolute sensitivity of virtual probes .28
9.5.1 General.28
9.5.2 Operating procedure .28
9.5.3 Acceptance criterion .28
9.6 Relative sensitivity of virtual probes .28
9.6.1 General.28
9.6.2 Operating procedure .28
9.6.3 Acceptance criterion .29
9.7 Probe index points .29
9.7.1 General.29
9.7.2 Operating procedure .29
9.7.3 Acceptance criteria .29
9.8 Angle(s) of refraction .29
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
9.8.1 General.29
9.8.2 Operating procedure .30
9.8.3 Acceptance criterion .30
9.9 Squint angle for contact probes .30
9.9.1 General.30
9.9.2 Operating procedure .30
9.9.3 Reporting .30
10 System record sheet .30
Annex A (informative) Tests to be performed and their acceptance criteria .32
Bibliography .34
iv © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
This document was prepared by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical
Committee CEN/TC 138, Non-destructive testing, in collaboration with ISO Technical Committee
ISO/TC 135, Non-destructive testing, Subcommittee SC 3, Ultrasonic Testing, in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
ISO 18563 consists of the following parts, under the general title Non-destructive testing —
Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array systems:
— Part 1: Instruments
— Part 3: Combined systems
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Non-destructive testing — Characterization and
verification of ultrasonic phased array equipment —
Part 3:
Combined systems
1 Scope
This part of ISO 18563 addresses ultrasonic test systems implementing linear phased array probes, in
contact (with or without wedge) or in immersion, with centre frequencies in the range of 0,5 MHz–10 MHz.
It provides methods and acceptance criteria for verifying the performance of combined equipment
(i.e. instrument, probe and cables connected). The methods described are suitable for users working
under on-site or shop floor conditions. Its purpose is for the verification of the correct operation of the
system prior to testing, and also the characterization of sound beams or verification of the absence of
degradation of the system.
The methods are not intended to prove the suitability of the system for particular applications, but are
intended to prove the capability of the combined equipment to generate ultrasonic beams according to
the settings used.
The calibration of the system for a specific application is outside of the scope of part of ISO 18563 and it
is intended that it be covered by the test procedure.
This part of ISO 18563 does not address the following:
— encircling arrays;
— series of apertures having a different number of elements;
— different settings for transmitting and receiving (e.g. active aperture, number of active elements,
delays);
— techniques using post-processing of the signals of individual elements in a more complex manner
than a simple delay law (e.g. full matrix capture).
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 5577, Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic inspection — Vocabulary
ISO 18563-1, Non-destructive testing — Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array
equipment — Part 1: Instruments
EN 1330-4, Non-destructive testing — Terminology — Part 4: Terms used in ultrasonic testing
EN 16018, Non-destructive testing — Terminology — Terms used in ultrasonic testing with phased arrays
EN 16392-2, Non-destructive testing — Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array test
equipment — Part 2: Probes
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 5577, EN 1330-4, EN 16018
and the following apply.
3.1
combined equipment
connected set including the instrument, the probe and connecting cables including adapters
3.2
system
combined equipment including the settings for a given mode of operation
Note 1 to entry: Settings are specific values or ranges of values.
3.3
reference system
system including an instrument according to ISO 18563-1 and a probe according to EN 16392-2, on
which all of the Group 1 tests defined in Clause 8 and all Group 2 tests defined in Clause 9 of this part of
ISO 18563-3 have been performed successfully
3.4
identical system
system in which instruments, probes and connecting cables are each from the same manufacturer and
of the same product name, and the mode of operation and the settings are the same
3.5
mode of operation
specification of shots and active apertures for each position of the probe as reported in Clause 6
3.6
natural refracted beam
beam in the direction of the natural refracted beam angle
3.7
system record sheet
document for reporting the test results for a system and for comparing with the values obtained from
the reference system
4 Symbols
For the purposes of this document, the symbols given in Table 1 apply.
Table 1 — Symbols
Symbol Unit Definitions
λ mm Wavelength
ΔS dB Relative sensitivity of an element
el
a mm Contact probe: distance between the orthogonal projection
i
of the axis of the hole and the front surface of the probe, see
Figure 4
Immersion probe: distance between the orthogonal projection
of the axis of the hole and the centre of the probe surface
A V or %-FSH Amplitude of one elementary signal
el
A V or %-FSH Mean value of the amplitudes of all elementary signals
mean
A V or %-FSH Mean value of the amplitudes of all elementary signals, ex-
ref
cluding the dead elements,
2 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Table 1 (continued)
D mm Diagonal of the active aperture
d mm Depth of the holes
i
G dB Calibrated gain
G dB Reference gain for the amplitude – distance measurements
ref
N mm Near field length associated with the active aperture
Θ ° Angle of refraction
p mm Pitch
X mm Distance between the probe front surface and the probe
index point
5 General requirements for conformity
The tests to be performed prior to the first use of the system for a given application (mode of operation
and settings) are described in Clause 8 (Group 1 tests) and in Clause 9 (Group 2 tests), except the tests
described in 9.3, 9.8 and 9.9 which are already performed for Group 1.
When all tests are successful, the system is considered to conform to this part of ISO 18563 and becomes
a reference system. If no component and/or setting of the system is modified or replaced, it remains a
reference system. Using the system with other settings does not void the reference system, if the original
settings can be restored. The results of the tests shall be reported on the system record sheet.
On a system identical to a reference system, only the Group 2 tests have to be performed. When all
tests are successful, the system is considered to conform to this part of ISO 18563. During the first
performance of the tests, the system record sheet is initialized with the values obtained on the reference
system and is completed with the values obtained after the tests.
The Group 2 tests have then to be performed periodically, on any system, on workshop or on site. After
each performance of the Group 2 tests, the system record sheet shall be updated.
Table 2 presents the different tests to be performed on a system, featuring an immersion or contact probe.
A summary of all tests to be carried out, including their acceptance criteria, is given in Table A.1.
Table 2 — Tests to be performed
Contact probe Immersion probe
Group 1 tests
Elements and channels
Channel assignment 8.2.2 8.2.2
Relative sensitivity of elements 8.2.3 8.2.3
Beam characterization
Absence of saturation 8.3.2 8.3.2
Angle of refraction — Probe index point 8.3.3.2
Angle of refraction — Point of incidence on the test object 8.3.4.2
Sensitivity along the beam axis 8.3.3.3 8.3.4.3
Beam dimensions 8.3.3.4 8.3.4.4
Squint angle 8.3.3.5
Grating lobes (recommended) 8.3.3.6
a
For the reference system, the test need not to be repeated because it was performed in Group 1.
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Table 2 (continued)
Contact probe Immersion probe
Imaging check
Reflector positioning 8.4.2 8.4.2
−6 dB spot size 8.4.3 8.4.3
Amplitude comparison 8.4.4 8.4.4
Group 2 tests
Visual inspection of the equipment 9.2 9.2
a
Relative sensitivity of elements 9.3 9.3
Linearity of the amplification system 9.4 9.4
Absolute sensitivity of virtual probes 9.5 9.5
Relative sensitivity of virtual probes 9.6 9.6
a
Probe index points 9.7
a
Angle(s) of refraction 9.8 9.8
a
Squint angle 9.9
a
For the reference system, the test need not to be repeated because it was performed in Group 1.
6 Modes of operation
During ultrasonic testing with phased arrays, a set of beams is generally produced from each position
of the probe.
Each beam corresponds to one shot, each being defined by the active aperture and by the delay laws
applied. The modes of operation are characterized by the number of apertures (one or multiple) and the
number of shots per aperture (one or multiple).
The tests described only address applications in which the transmitting elements are also receiving.
In the scope of this standard, only one received signal is considered for each shot.
Depending on the application the following variants of phased array technique (modes of operation)
can be used/combined:
— number of active apertures (one or multiple);
— number of shots or delay laws (one or multiple) per active aperture;
— type of delay law (beam steering, beam focusing or combined).
If multiple active apertures are used, then the same set of delay laws may be used for all active
apertures, or a different set of delay laws may be used for each active apertures. The latter may be
required to compensate for the orientation of the array relative to the object surface (wedge angle for
contact technique, array tilt for immersion technique).
The verification tests for the different modes shall be performed as follows:
Mode 1
— Only one beam is created.
— Tests are performed with this beam.
Mode 2
— Multiple beams are created with the same active aperture.
4 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
— Tests are performed with a minimum of three beams corresponding to the extremes and median
delay laws.
Mode 3
— Only applicable for an array parallel to the test surface.
— Multiple active apertures are used, all using the same delay law.
— Tests are performed with a minimum of one aperture.
Mode 4:
— Multiple active apertures are used, all using the same set of delay laws.
— Tests are performed with a minimum of one aperture and with a minimum of three beams
corresponding to the extremes and median delay laws.
Mode 5
— Multiple active apertures are used, all using a single delay law but different for each active aperture.
— Alternatively, multiple active apertures are used, all using the same delay law, if the array is not
parallel to the test surface.
— Tests are performed with a minimum of three apertures corresponding to the extreme and
median positions.
Mode 6
— Multiple active apertures are used, each using a different set of delay laws.
— Tests are performed with a minimum of three apertures corresponding to the median and extreme
positions and, for each of these apertures, on three beams corresponding to the extremes and
median delay laws.
The modes are described and illustrated in Table 3.
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Table 3 — Modes of operation
Number of
Number of Identical or different
delay laws
Modes active delay laws for each Examples
per active
apertures aperture
aperture
Not applicable
Beam steering
Mode 1 One One
Not applicable
Focusing on one point
Not applicable
Sectorial electronic scanning
Mode 2 One Multiple
Not applicable
Focusing on several points
NOTE 1 For simplicity only the beam centre lines are indicated. An arrow indicates the beam direction, dots indicate focal
points.
NOTE 2 The medium between array and test object can be a fluid (immersion) or a solid (e.g. wedge).
6 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Table 3 (continued)
Number of
Number of Identical or different
delay laws
Modes active delay laws for each Examples
per active
apertures aperture
aperture
Identical beams for each
aperture
Beam steering
Mode 3 Multiple One
Identical beams for each
aperture
Focusing on one depth
Set of beams identical
for each aperture
Sectorial electronic scanning
Mode 4 Multiple Multiple
Set of beams identical
for each aperture
Focusing on several points
NOTE 1 For simplicity only the beam centre lines are indicated. An arrow indicates the beam direction, dots indicate focal
points.
NOTE 2 The medium between array and test object can be a fluid (immersion) or a solid (e.g. wedge).
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Table 3 (continued)
Number of
Number of Identical or different
delay laws
Modes active delay laws for each Examples
per active
apertures aperture
aperture
Different for each
aperture
Beam steering
Mode 5 Multiple One
Different for each
aperture
Focusing on one depth
Set of beams different
for each aperture
Sectorial electronic scanning
Mode 6 Multiple Multiple
Set of beams different
for each aperture
Focusing on several points
NOTE 1 For simplicity only the beam centre lines are indicated. An arrow indicates the beam direction, dots indicate focal
points.
NOTE 2 The medium between array and test object can be a fluid (immersion) or a solid (e.g. wedge).
7 Equipment required for tests
The equipment required for the tests of the phased array system includes the following:
— suitable reference block(s);
EXAMPLE Size, curvature, material grade and/or sound velocity, dimensions of the block(s) and type, size
and position of reflectors.
8 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
— means for measuring length and angle.
8 Group 1 tests
8.1 General
Group 1 tests are to be performed upon the system, initially, after a maintenance operation or after
replacement of one of the system components.
For applications in which not all the elements of the probe are used, the tests can be limited to the
elements of the used apertures only. In that case the results of the tested elements shall be recorded on
the system record sheet.
Before performing the tests the equipment settings shall be made according to the array, wedge etc.
that are in use.
8.2 Elements and channels
8.2.1 General
These tests are to ensure proper connection of the probe to the instrument and correct operation of the
probe once connected.
The tests address
— the verification of channel/element assignment for transmission and reception, and the capability
of the instrument to perform the electronic switching operations necessary to activate different
apertures successively,
— the measurement of the relative sensitivity of the probe elements, and
— the identification of any failing component (e.g. dead elements).
If necessary, and if the instrument has the capability, these tests are followed by a compensation in
amplitude of the elements.
8.2.2 Channel assignment
8.2.2.1 Operating procedure
For this test, it is necessary to use a planar reflecting surface that is tilted by a few degrees to the natural
refracted beam axis in order to generate increasing time-of-flight values from element to element.
For the immersion technique, either tilt the array or tilt the reflector (a few degrees off
perpendicular incidence).
For the contact technique:
— without a wedge, use a reference block with planar surfaces that are non-parallel;
— with a wedge,
1) no reference block is needed if an echo from within the wedge is received for each element, or
2) use a reference block with planar surfaces, where the impingement angle on the reflecting
surface is at least a few degrees (see Figure 1).
Activate the elements one by one from the first element to the last element and compare the individual
time-of-flight (e.g. A-scans, E-scans, time-of-flight values).
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
a
Impingement angle.
NOTE The lines show only the centre line of the transmitted beam.
Figure 1 — Example of operating mode for verification of channel assignment in case of contact
probe with wedge
8.2.2.2 Acceptance criteria
The longest time-of-flight shall be associated with the element farthest from the reflector; the shortest
time-of-flight shall be associated with the echo corresponding to the element closest to the reflector.
The time-of-flight of the received signals shall vary monotonically with element position.
8.2.3 Relative sensitivity of elements
8.2.3.1 General
The objective is to verify the relative sensitivity of the elements of the probe and to identify dead elements.
The test consists in activating successively each of the elements of the active aperture (transmit and
receive with the same element) then measuring the variation in the amplitude of an echo generated by
reflection on a planar surface equally distant from the various elements.
For contoured probe wedges, it is recommended to verify that the elementary channels are homogeneous
without the wedge, if possible.
8.2.3.2 Operating procedures
8.2.3.2.1 Contact probes
The operating procedure for contact probes is as follows.
Position the probe on a reference block in order to obtain the same time-of-flight for all of the
elements, e.g.:
— without a wedge, if possible;
— with a wedge, using a block of the same material with one side inclined at the same angle as the
probe wedge;
— with a flat delay block, using the signals of the block surface (dry surface, no coupling fluid at the
reflecting surface).
Activate the elements one by one (transmit and receive with the same element).
10 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
Display the amplitude of the echo from the reflector for each element.
Measure the amplitude A of each elementary signal.
el
8.2.3.2.2 Immersion probes
The operating procedure for immersion probes is as follows:
Position the probe in normal incidence in front of a reference block (made of steel, e.g.) with a
planar surface.
Activate the elements one by one (transmit and receive with the same element).
Display the amplitude of the interface echo for each element; perpendicular incidence is obtained if all
signals show an equivalent time-of-flight within a half-period tolerance.
Measure the amplitude A of the signal of each element.
el
8.2.3.3 Identification of dead elements
The relative sensitivity (in dB) of each element is calculated using Formula (1):
ΔSA= 20 log A (1)
()
el el mean
where
A the amplitude of the signal of a single element;
el
A the mean value of the amplitudes of all signals (needs to be calculated);
mean
ΔS relative sensitivity of an element.
el
An element is considered to be a dead element if
a) ΔS < −12 dB when the instrument is able to apply a compensation in gain on the elements,
el
b) ΔΔS < −9 dB when the instrument has no compensation circuit.
el
A drop in amplitude A can be caused by the array element, the cable and/or the instrument. Regardless
el
of the reason, this shall be referred to as a dead element.
8.2.3.4 Calculation of reference sensitivity
The reference sensitivity A is defined as the mean value of the amplitudes of the elementary signals
ref
excluding the dead elements. A has to be calculated and reported on the system record sheet. A is
ref ref
the reference amplitude for subsequent tests.
8.2.3.5 Compensation of sensitivity variation (amplitude balancing)
The compensation aims to reduce the variations in sensitivity between the elements. If the instrument
has the capability, elementary amplitude compensation should be performed.
Every element showing a deviation in sensitivity greater than 3 dB (in absolute value) with respect to
A shall be compensated.
ref
The compensation means changing elementary gain, limited to ± 12 dB, of any element which has shown
a deviation in sensitivity more than 3 dB (in absolute value) with respect to the reference sensitivity A .
ref
Compensated elements together with their gain compensation shall be reported in the system
record sheet.
ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
8.2.3.6 Acceptance criteria
The number of dead elements on the same active aperture shall be a maximum of 1 out of 16 and the
dead elements are not allowed to be adjacent.
8.3 Beam characterization
8.3.1 General
To verify that the phased array equipment is able to produce the beam(s) as intended, it is necessary
to characterize at least the beam(s) according to the mode of operation as selected in Clause 6. Due
to the number of variables in settings for phased array technology, typically no data sheets for beam
characterization are available as they are for conventional ultrasonic probes. Therefore reference
values for beam characterization should be determined on a reference system. The items for beam
characterization shall cover at least the items that are relevant for the operational use (application) of
the equipment.
These tests shall be carried out
a) after the tests of elements and channels upon a new system build-up,
b) when a drift of the system characteristics is found during Group 2 tests.
In respect of a), If the beam characterization has already been performed on an identical system (see
3.4), the characterization tests may be skipped on the new system. Indeed, the results obtained from
the identical system may be used as a reference and the Group 2 tests carried out. The reference results
shall be reported on the new system record sheet.
The characterization includes measurement of the following:
— probe index point (for contact probes) or point of incidence on the test object (for immersion probes);
— angle of refraction for angle-beam probes;
— sensitivity along the beam axis (e.g. distance-amplitude curve);
— beam dimensions in the area of interest;
— squint angle for contact probes;
— grating lobes (measurement or simulation recommended, if suspected).
Depending on the mode of operation, beam characterization is carried out on a subset of apertures
and/or shots (see Clause 6).
Nevertheless, when the phased array probe includes dead elements, for Modes 3, 4, 5 and 6, it is necessary
to characterize the beams of all the active apertures affected by the presence of those dead elements:
— for the shot concerned (Mode 3);
— for three shots corresponding to the extreme and median settings (Mode 4, 5 and 6).
These additional characterizations may be skipped in any of the following cases:
— the number of dead elements on the same active aperture is less than or equal to 1 out of 16 and the
dead elements are not adjacent;
— a software simulation has provided evidence that for the given application the dead elements have
no influence on the beams compared to the beams generated with all elements working properly;
12 © ISO 2015 – All rights reserved

ISO 18563-3:2015(E)
— an experimental simulation of dead elements has been performed by switching off one or multiple
elements and has shown that for the given application the dead elements have no influence on the
beams compared to the beams generated with all elements working properly.
8.3.2 Absence of saturation
8.3.2.1 General
Prior to each test of the characterization of beams it is necessary to verify that elementary channels do
not saturate.
There are two situations, as follows:
a) If the instrument has an indication function for saturated channels, then this verification is not
required. If saturation is indicated, the operator shall take appropriate measures to avoid saturation.
b) If the instrument has no indication function for saturated channels, then the linearity of the sum of
signals shall be verified (see 8.3.2.2). A saturation of elementary channels leads to a distortion of
the sum of signals and alters any quantitative measurement of amplitude; therefore, the absence of
saturation is verified by checking the linearity of the sum of signals.
Verification of the absence of saturation shall be performed for the various active configurations and
shots which require beam characterization and prior to all amplitude measurements made during this
characterization.
8.3.2.2 Operating procedure
Set and note
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