An overview of ultrasonic beam propagation and flaw scattering models in the CIVA software

This paper aims at presenting an overview of the current capabilities of the ultrasonic models of the CIVA software platform (for ultrasonics, eddy current and radiography techniques), developed by CEA-LIST and partners. Those models are based on semi-analytical approaches and numerical integration (integral methods upon the surface of probe or the flaw) in order to address fairly complex configurations while keeping reduced computation times. Such skills are obviously reached within the range of validity of the semi-analytical models, which have to be carefully studied. In this context, benchmarks organized by the World Federation of NDE Centers (WFNDEC) from 2004 have largely contributed, thanks to experimental data and comparison with other codes of the community, to the validation of simulation codes. Those benchmarks were mostly dealing with canonical problems (in terms of probes, component geometry and flaw shapes). This paper aims at summing up the various problems addressed in the benchmarks and their contribution to the extension of UT models in CIVA.