Simulations of common ultrasonic NDT inspections using the spectral-element method (SEM)

Ultrasonic inspection is a powerful non-destructive testing (NDT) method for locating flaws and detecting internal material changes. However, depending on the testing task, ultrasonic signals can be complex and difficult to interpret. Spectral-element method simulations can efficiently provide a better understanding of all wave modes and reflection effects, leading to improved signal interpretation. This demonstration shows simulations of representative weld inspection scenarios generated using W-Scan from Mondaic. The simulations accurately model ultrasonic wave behavior and flaw response in complex structures. These simulations can very accurately match reality and provide efficient results using GPU-acceleration. The demonstration continues to show how accurate simulations can be used further, including to create datasets for AI / ML.