Microwave Scan Inspection of HDPE Piping Thermal Fusion Welds for Lack of Fusion Defect

Abstract:

In this paper, microwave scan inspection was employed to detect the lack of fusion defect existing in the thermal fusion welds of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping. The thermal fusion welds without defects were firstly inspected by microwave scan technique. The obtained microwave interference pattern and the scan image produced were taken as the evaluation standard. Then the thermal fusion welds containing lack of fusion defects obtained under different welding conditions were inspected, and the corresponding scan images were recorded. The problems occurring in the welding processes that lead to lack of fusion defects in thermal fusion welds can be distinguished by analyzing the scan images. Mechanical tests were performed to confirm the effectiveness and reliability of the microwave scan method in detecting the lack of fusion defects in thermal fusion welds of HDPE piping.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 333-335)
• Pages: 1523-1528
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.333-335.1523
• Online since: July 2013
• Authors: Xin Wei Zhu, Jin Ping Pan, Lian Jiang Tan
• Keywords: HDPE Piping, Lack-of-Fusion (LOF), Microwave Inspection, Thermal Fusion Welds

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