GUL designs and develops GWT equipment and provides training and technical support for its products. The Wavemaker pipe screening systems are at the core of GUL products and is sold worldwide from GUL’s base in London. David Alleyne is a key player within GUL for activities from marketing through technical support services, technology development and strategic research.

PhD in Guided wave testing of Plates. from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London, UK).

One of the founding members of Guided Ultrasonics Ltd., which was set up in 1998 to commercialize guided wave inspection systems.

Primary responsibilities include marketing and sales, technical training and on-site support, all aspects of product development and production.

Over 20 years experience in the guided wave field, including outstanding academic contributions supported by field and application knowledge and experience.

Driver for the development of GWT standards and 3rd party certification.

Abstract

Guided Ultrasonics Ltd, RM1/RM2 Reynards Business Park, London, UK

Guided wave testing (GWT) is established in the petrochemical and related industries, primarily for the detection of corrosion flaws. Touch point corrosion at support positions in pipe-work has become a significant problem within many operating gas, chemical and petro-chemical plants world-wide, particularly as a high proportion of these plants are well over 30 years old. This presentation will present how GWT using guided waves sent axially along the pipe can be performed for the detection and accurate classification of touch point corrosion.

The major advantage of GWT methods for the detection of touch point corrosion is its ability to examine several support positions from a single easy to access transducer position. The strategy is then to prioritize or rank the condition of the pipe at the supports by removing those with negligible wall loss from scheduling for further inspection. This presentation demonstrates that guided waves are accurate at detecting and classifying corrosion patches at supports, but that pits within such patches are more difficult to accurately identify. Examples using data from routine inspection testing is used to support the development of the methods and procedures presented. Recent developments of the interpretation methods, testing procedures and calibration methods have significantly enhanced the capabilities of GWT for this important application.