Ultrasonic probe and method for measuring thickness of pipe being inspected using the same

Abstract

[Problem] When a beam is emitted from inside a pipe onto an inside surface of the pipe using an ultrasonic probe in which flat plate-like transducers are arranged, since the transduces are in the shape of flat shape, signals reflected from the tubular pipe wall do not always return straight to the transducers, and scattering and interferences occurs in the returning waves. [Solution] An ultrasonic transducer according to the present application is curved to match the internal shape of the pipe, and therefore ultrasonic waves emitted from the transducers are radiated perpendicular to the pipe wall, and reflected echo signals thereof are also reflected and return perpendicularly from the irradiated pipe wall, and thus scattering and interference occur less than with ultrasonic waves and reflected waves emitted from flat plate-like transducers arranged in positions at oblique angles with respect to the pipe wall, and it is therefore possible to obtain clear data by selecting ultrasonic waves having a wavelength corresponding to the thickness of the pipe.