FAST™ Ultrasonics Flaw Analysis and SizingTechnique™  FAST UT is an innovative technology which has been  patented by Rick Pfannenstiel, president of PfiNDE.  It was developed to improve the reliability of ultrasonic inspection of welds in thin walled components at a nuclear power plant. Since then it has been further developed and refined to allow for reliable  inspection of a variety of components, materials and thicknesses. Deep Crack in .312T Pipe Long Seam FAST is an innovative way to use a 70° longitudinal wave to do both detection and sizing of flaws. The most outstanding feature of FAST is the absence of confusing geometric reflections from features such as root beads, counter bores and backing rings. Licensing right to use FAST™ may be granted through arrangement with PfiNDE, Inc. Among other factors, training by PfiNDE is a key to this process. FAST has been successfully applied to: Thin wall weld inspection Thin wall crack detection and  sizing SCC Sizing IGSCC detection and sizing Thru wall sizing of planar flaws Boiler tube welds Heat exchanger tube welds PDI Qualified Single Side Access S/S Examinations ID Crack in Long Seam - Flash Welded Pipe New applications are being developed frequently to assist in the inspection of new welds. FAST UT has made inspection of thin-walled components feasible and reliable. Welds in boiler tubes, pharmaceutical piping, heat exchanger tubing are being inspected with excellent reliability. With FAST, the entire volume of  weld can be inspected in a single scan with a single transducer,  much like a phased array or a multiple transducer system. This  attribute allows for inexpensive and reliable inspection of pipeline  welds.  This attribute makes FAST more reliable  than Phased Array UT for accurately characterizing cracks in thin walled piping systems.  Crack at ID of Weld in .312T Material When FAST UT is automated the entire weld volume is examined in one line scan.  Flaw size information is  obtained at the same time as detection. FAST used in conjunction with TOFD inspects the entire volume of the weld in one line scan. Excellent detection and characterization of flaws is obtained with FAST and  excellent through wall sizing is obtained with the TOFD.  This is now being done to facilitate girthweld quality examinations in lieu of radiography. This is being done by our Advanced Technology group. >>PDI  (Performance Demonstration Initiative) Qualified for Piping Qualification Obtained is as follows: Detection  and Length Sizing for Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Clad Carbon Steel, and IGSCC. Through-wall sizing for above Single Side Access for above (see below) 2” diameter through 50” diameter (flat) .200” T  through 3.5”T   >>Single Side Access To test the limitations of the procedure, and to see if it could be  done, two technicians challenged the entire PDI qualification  examination with all samples limited to single side access. Both  technicians completed the entire examination in less than 8 hours including the IGSCC portion. Both technicians obtained passing scores  with one of the two achieving a perfect score.   Though it is not recommended to perform examinations from only one side  of a weld, at times there may be no other choice. Further, it’s great  confirmation of a crack when it can be clearly seen from both sides of  an austenitic weld. This is a very useful  property of FAST.   >>Other  Attributes of FAST™ Only 1 Calibration Block for entire range of thickness, materials and curvatures above Only 3 Transducers for above. (The transducer needs to be larger as the thickness becomes greater.) Detection, Characterization, Through-wall Sizing and Length Sizing are all done during the detection scan with no changes necessary in set-up parameters or equipment. Geometric  Reflectors are virtually eliminated    World-Wide Innovational Service 166 Ingham Hill Road  - Old  Saybrook, CT  06475 860-510-0762 (office) 860-510-0782 (fax) 12816 South Memorial Dr. , Suite 119   -  Bixby, OK  74008 918-369-2805 (office) 918-369-2806 (fax) info@PfiNDE.com