PAUT Inspection Reporting and Data Traceability
One of the principal advantages of encoded Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing is its ability to create permanent digital inspection records.
A complete PAUT inspection record should connect every reported result to the relevant component, weld, procedure, equipment setup, calibration file and encoded scan data.
Effective traceability allows clients, inspectors and technical reviewers to confirm:
➤ What was inspected
➤ Where the inspection was performed
➤ Which procedure was used
➤ Who performed and reviewed the examination
➤ What equipment and probes were used
➤ Whether calibration was valid
➤ What indications were detected
➤ How the final result was determined
A PAUT report should provide more than a few scan images. It must form part of a controlled and auditable inspection-data package.
What Is PAUT Data Traceability?
PAUT data traceability is the documented connection between the physical weld and every record generated during its inspection.
A traceable inspection chain may include:
Why PAUT Reporting Is Important?
Proper reporting supports:
➤ Quality-control decisions
➤ Weld acceptance
➤ Repair planning
➤ Client review
➤ Third-party inspection
➤ Regulatory audits
➤ Shutdown management
➤ Future comparison
➤ Remaining-life studies
➤ Technical investigations
➤ Contractual documentation
The report should allow another qualified person to understand what was done without depending entirely on the original operator’s memory.
PAUT Data Types
A complete PAUT project may generate:
➤ Equipment setup files
➤ Focal-law files
➤ Calibration files
➤ Verification scans
➤ Encoded weld scans
➤ Manual confirmation scans
➤ TOFD scan files
➤ Analysis files
➤ Scan screenshots
➤ Indication tables
➤ Weld summary sheets
➤ Repair and rescan records
➤ Final reports
➤ Raw-data backups
The original scan data should be preserved wherever contractually required.
Component and Weld Identification
Each scan must be linked to a unique physical inspection location.
Identification may include:
➤ Project number
➤ Client name
➤ Plant or facility
➤ Unit or area
➤ Equipment tag
➤ Pipeline number
➤ Isometric number
➤ Spool number
➤ Joint number
➤ Weld number
➤ Component orientation
➤ Clock position
➤ Scan direction
➤ Inspection date
The same identification should appear on the component, inspection drawing, scan file and final report.
Recommended PAUT File-Naming System
A controlled file name can contain:
Project–Line–Spool–Weld–Method–Scan Direction–Status–Revision
File names should remain:
➤ Unique
➤ Consistent
➤ Short enough for the software
➤ Free from unclear abbreviations
➤ Linked to the project register
➤ Protected from unauthorized changes
Inspection Procedure Information
The report should identify:
➤ PAUT procedure number
➤ Procedure revision
➤ Technique-sheet number
➤ Scan-plan reference
➤ Applicable examination code
➤ Acceptance standard
➤ Client specification
➤ Inspection coverage
➤ Deviation or concession reference, if applicable
Only the approved procedure revision should be used for production inspection.
Equipment Details
The report should record:
➤ PAUT instrument manufacturer
➤ Equipment model
➤ Serial number
➤ Software version, where required
➤ Pulser-receiver configuration
➤ Number of active channels
➤ Encoder model
➤ Encoder resolution
➤ Scanner type
➤ Calibration status
Where more than one system is used, the specific equipment must be linked to the corresponding scan files.
Probe and Wedge Details
Important information includes:
➤ Probe manufacturer
➤ Probe model
➤ Probe serial number
➤ Frequency
➤ Number of elements
➤ Element pitch
➤ Active aperture
➤ Wedge model
➤ Wedge serial or identification number
➤ Wedge angle
➤ Wedge curvature
➤ Wave mode
➤ Probe orientation
These details are essential because changing the probe or wedge can change inspection performance.
Focal-Law and Scan Parameters
The report or associated technique sheet may record:
➤ Sectorial or linear scan
➤ Start and end angles
➤ Angular resolution
➤ Aperture
➤ First and last elements
➤ Focal depth
➤ Material velocity
➤ Inspection range
➤ Digitizing frequency
➤ Averaging
➤ Filters
➤ Gain
➤ Time-corrected gain
➤ Gate settings
➤ Scan resolution
➤ Index position
These settings should correspond to the approved scan plan and calibration.
Calibration Records
Calibration records should include:
➤ Calibration-block identification
➤ Block drawing number
➤ Material
➤ Diameter or thickness
➤ Reference-reflector details
➤ Wedge-delay calibration
➤ Velocity calibration
➤ Sensitivity calibration
➤ TCG or reference-gain settings
➤ Encoder calibration
➤ Calibration date and time
➤ Calibration verification
➤ Technician identification
Where required, calibration should be verified at the end of the examination period or after any system change.
Encoded Scan Information
Every encoded scan should identify:
➤ Start and stop position
➤ Scan direction
➤ Probe side
➤ Weld-centreline reference
➤ Encoder zero point
➤ Scan length
➤ Scan speed, where relevant
➤ Scan resolution
➤ Index offset
➤ Coverage achieved
➤ Missed or incomplete areas
Loss of coupling, encoder slippage or interrupted scanning should be marked and rescanned where necessary.
PAUT Data Quality Review
Before accepting a scan for analysis, the reviewer should check:
➤ Correct weld identification
➤ Valid calibration
➤ Complete scan length
➤ Adequate coupling
➤Stable back-wall or reference response
➤ Correct probe position
➤ Encoder operation
➤ Required weld coverage
➤ Absence of data dropout
➤ Correct focal-law group
➤ Proper scan direction
➤ File integrity
A scan with inadequate data quality should not be accepted merely because no reportable indication is visible.
Indication Recording
A PAUT indication table may contain:
|
Field |
Information |
| Indication number |
Unique reference |
|
Weld number |
Physical weld identification |
|
Scan file |
Original data-file reference |
| Position |
Distance from the selected datum |
|
Clock position |
Circumferential location |
|
Probe side |
Side A, Side B or defined orientation |
|
Start and end |
Indication-length limits |
|
Length |
Measured indication length |
|
Depth |
Position below the scanning surface |
|
Through-wall height |
Sizing result, where applicable |
| Maximum amplitude |
Recorded response |
|
Beam angle |
Angle producing the relevant response |
|
Characterization |
Crack-like, lack of fusion, geometric or other |
| Evaluation |
Acceptable, reportable or subject to review |
|
Remarks |
Limitations and supplementary information |
The terminology should match the applicable inspection code and approved procedure.
Recording PAUT Images
Report screenshots should clearly display:
➤ Weld overlay
➤ Component boundaries
➤ Relevant indication
➤ Position scale
➤ Depth scale
➤ Beam or angle information
➤ Scan-file identification
➤ Colour scale
➤ Cursor position
➤ Measurement gates
➤ Sizing markers
Screenshots support the written result, but they should not replace the original encoded data file.
Reporting Inspection Results
A clear result classification may include:
➤ Accepted
➤ Rejected
➤ Reportable indication
➤ Engineering evaluation required
➤ Incomplete coverage
➤ Rescan required
➤ Surface preparation required
➤ Not inspected
➤ Inspection limitation recorded
The term “accepted” should only be used when defined acceptance criteria are available and applied.
Preliminary vs Final Reports
Preliminary Report
A preliminary report supports immediate production or shutdown decisions. It may provide:
➤ Weld identification
➤ Initial inspection result
➤ Reportable indication location
➤ Preliminary sizing
➤ Repair or review status
➤ Inspection limitation
Final Report
A final report should include verified results, approved interpretations, referenced scan files and complete supporting information.
The document should clearly state if a preliminary result has been revised following detailed analysis.
Repair and Reinspection Traceability
Repair records should be connected to the original inspection.
The traceability chain should include:
1.Original scan file
2. Original indication report
3. Repair authorization
4. Repair location and extent
5. Post-repair scan file
6. Reinspection result
7. Final acceptance status
File names should clearly differentiate:
➤ As-welded inspection
➤ First repair
➤ Second repair
➤ Final rescan
Original files should not be overwritten.
Coverage Reporting
The final report should define the actual examination coverage.
This may include:
➤ Full weld-volume coverage
➤ Partial coverage
➤ One-sided scanning only
➤ Restricted root coverage
➤ Restricted fusion-face coverage
➤ Missed clock positions
➤ Scanner obstruction
➤ Inaccessible areas
➤ Surface-condition limitations
➤ Material-related limitations
A report should not imply 100% coverage unless it has been demonstrated.
Data Review and Approval
Depending on the project, PAUT data may be reviewed by:
➤ PAUT Level II technician
➤ Independent data analyst
➤ PAUT Level III
➤ Client inspector
➤ Third-party inspection agency
➤ Authorized inspector
➤ Engineering authority
The report should identify:
➤ Inspector
➤ Data analyst
➤ Technical reviewer
➤ Approval authority
➤ Certification level
➤ Date of review
Data Backup and Storage
A robust backup system should include:
➤ Original field-data copy
➤ Working analysis copy
➤ Secondary backup
➤ Final approved archive
➤ Report register
➤ Controlled access
➤ Retention period
➤ Revision history
At least one backup should be stored separately from the primary analysis computer.
Data Security and Integrity
Inspection data should be protected from:
➤ Accidental deletion
➤ Unauthorized modification
➤ File overwriting
➤ Misidentification
➤ Incomplete transfer
➤ Corrupted storage devices
➤ Uncontrolled software conversion
Where required, file checksums or controlled document-management systems can help demonstrate data integrity.
Data-Retention Period
The required retention period should be specified in the contract or project quality plan.
Retention requirements may depend on:
➤ Construction code
➤ Client specification
➤ Regulatory requirements
➤ Component design life
➤ Warranty obligations
➤ In-service inspection programme
➤ Legal or contractual requirements
The inspection company and client should agree on who retains the original raw data.
Common PAUT Reporting Errors
Frequent reporting problems include:
➤ Incorrect weld number
➤ Scan file not linked to the report
➤ Missing calibration record
➤ Wrong procedure revision
➤ Incomplete probe or wedge details
➤ Unclear scan direction
➤ Missing coverage limitations
➤ Screenshots without scales
➤ Original data overwritten after repair
➤ Incorrect acceptance criteria
➤ Preliminary result presented as final
➤ Report not reviewed by authorized personnel
A controlled checklist can prevent many of these errors.
Recommended Final Report Package
A professional PAUT package may include:
➤ Cover page
➤ Inspection summary
➤ Weld-status register
➤ Approved procedure reference
➤ Technique sheets
➤ Scan plans
➤ Personnel qualifications
➤ Equipment details
➤ Calibration-block details
➤ Calibration records
➤ Indication tables
➤ PAUT and TOFD images
➤ Repair and rescan register
➤ Coverage limitations
➤ Final inspection reports
➤ Raw-data index
➤ Electronic scan files, where required
Applicable Standards
PAUT reporting may be governed by requirements from:
➤ ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
➤ ISO 13588
➤ ISO 17640
➤ ISO 4761
➤ ISO 20601
➤ ISO 22825
➤ ISO 23864
➤ API 1104
➤ AWS requirements
➤ Client specifications
➤ Project quality plans
➤ Approved written procedures
The contractually applicable reporting and data-retention requirements should be confirmed before inspection.
Our PAUT Reporting Capabilities
Integrity & Advanced Inspection Solutions India Private Limited provides:
➤ Encoded PAUT data acquisition
➤ PAUT and TOFD data analysis
➤ Weld-wise inspection reporting
➤ Shift-wise shutdown reporting
➤ Digital scan-file indexing
➤ Repair and reinspection tracking
➤ Level III technical review
➤ Colour-coded indication summaries
➤ Client and third-party data review
➤ Raw-data archive preparation
➤ Customized reporting formats
➤ Domestic and international project support
Information Required for Reporting Setup
Before the project begins, please confirm:
➤ Required report template
➤ Weld-identification system
➤ Applicable code
➤ Acceptance criteria
➤ Preliminary reporting timeline
➤ Final reporting timeline
➤ Raw-data submission requirement
➤ File format
➤ Data-retention period
➤ Client-review process
➤ Third-party approval requirements
➤ Repair-tracking method
Request a PAUT Inspection Proposal
Our technical team can prepare a project-specific inspection and reporting plan covering field data acquisition, analysis, weld-wise traceability, repair tracking and final digital-data submission.