Simulation and experimental verification of ultrasonic phased array imaging technology for electrofusion joint defect detection in polyethylene pipes
                                                                               Fu Xi bin
                                  (Xiamen Special Equipment Inspection Institute, Xiamen 361004, China)

Abstract: Inorder to quick achieve the ultrasonic images for algorithm development of Polyethylene pipe nondestructive evaluation, a finite element (FE) model was built to simulate ultrasonic response of heating wire in PE pipe electrofusion joints by using multi physics coupling finite element analysis software COMSOL Multiphysics, the defected PE pipe with drilling hole and electrofusion joints with pore were tested by an ultrasonic phased array (UPA) imaging system for the verification of the FE model. The UPA images of defected PE pipe with drilling hole were processed by Richardson Lucy deconvolution algorithm. The results indicate that the feasibility of simulation of UPA imaging based on Fourier transform. The FE model could provide the numerical model for UPA imaging of electrofusion joint defect in polyethylene pipes.

Key words: electrofusion joints in polyethylene pipes; defect; ultrasonic phased array imaging; finite element analysis