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System description
ANDSCAN® is a versatile Windows™ application for acquiring and
analysing 2-dimensional scans of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data. Typical
uses include ultrasonic scanning of composite structures for aerospace and
motor-sport applications, eddy-current imaging of multi-layered aluminium
structures and low-frequency vibration scans of sandwich composites. A variety
of coordinate positioning machines can be employed to provide the information
about probe location.
Background
ANDSCAN®,
the portable scanner developed by QinetiQ (formerly the Defence Evaluation and
Research Agency, DERA), is one of several scanning systems which have recently
revolutionized the application of hand-held NDT methods. The ability to provide
a two-dimensional map showing the structural integrity of a component is of
great benefit across the spectrum of NDT. When combined with data storage,
post-processing, versatility, and the rapid incorporation of new techniques
through software updates, the advantages are overwhelming. In making such a
system available to the NDT operator, the crucial requirement has been to reduce
to a minimum the additional equipment and time required for the inspection.
The Scanning Revolution
An integral objective of the NDT research and development work at QinetiQ has
been the rapid transfer of its technology to the end user. By producing
software-based systems, and regularly updating the commercial version (ANDSCAN®)
with user-friendly versions of the new techniques, it has been possible for
QinetiQ to dramatically reduce the technology transfer time.
ANDSCAN History.
Key Uses
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Typical Applications
Aerospace |
ANDSCAN is widely
used in civil and military aerospace for scanning areas of composite and
metallic structures using conventional ultrasonic, eddy-current and acoustic
flaw detectors. Whilst the Large-Area Grid capability allows coverage of large
structures such as wings, the high resolution makes characterisation and sizing
of defects highly accurate. Software tools provide the semi-automated
measurement of a range of defect parameters.
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Large areas of the external surface
of pipes are regularly scanned to map the wall thickness, both to detect
gross thinning and also to determine the remaining life of the pipe.
Cylindrical curvature correction allows the unwrapping of the pipe surface
onto the display, whilst the Large-Area Grid software can automatically
stitch scans to provide an overall image. |
Motor
Sports |
Acoustic, or
low-frequency vibration methods are commonly used alongside ultrasound to detect
and characterize defects in high-performance composite sandwich structures. More
than six of the top Formula One racing teams own ANDSCAN systems for regular
inspection of such structures.
© Copyright R A Smith, 1998
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Historical
The first ANDSCAN
system was a DOS-based application developed by the NDE Group at the Royal
Aerospace Establishment, Farnborough, UK. It was manufactured and marketed
world-wide from 1992 by Wells Krautkramer Ltd and associated companies in the
Krautkramer Group, now part of Agfa NDT Ltd. ANDSCAN for Windows was a further
development in 1995 by the same group, but then in a larger organization – the
Defense Research Agency (DRA) – an agency of the UK Ministry of Defense. By the
time the 32-bit application: ANDSCAN 2000, was released in December 2000 the
agency had grown further into the Defense Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).
In 2001 the NDE Group became part of the privatized research company QinetiQ Ltd
but is still based at Farnborough. This now forms the basic software package and
work the NDE Group is concentrating on developing plug-in hardware and software
modules.
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ANDSCAN®
Reader
ANDSCAN® Reader is an application that will open ANDSCAN®
files and most other image format files and allow analysis of the data using
many tools from the full ANDSCAN®
application. Some tools are only available for analysis of ANDSCAN®
files.
The ANDSCAN Reader application is available free of charge on condition that the
license terms are accepted, and can be downloaded from this page: ANDSCAN®
Reader.
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Connectivity
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Core
ANDSCAN |
TRECSCAN® Plug-In |
Waveform
Analysis Plug-In |
UltraSpec™ Plug-In |
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Training
A
comprehensive and flexible training course is offered by the developers of
ANDSCAN® and is run twice a year in May and
November.
ANDSCAN® Training Course
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