Health monitoring of draglines using ultrasonic waves

Influence of variations in geometric parameters and an alternative design for improved fatigue life of a mining dragline joint

“…Currently the only Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) conducted to detect welding defects on the joint welds is visual, perhaps aided by magnetic particle surface testing. While volumetric testing using ultrasonics is applied to chord-to-chord butt welds, this procedure is not used on joint welds [6]. There is also no Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) conducted on the joint welds for reducing any weld induced residual stresses, which if performed, has been suggested to improve the fatigue life substantially [7].…”

Ultrasonic Waves in Mining Application

“…This analysis is based on a method that is able to sound and image the rock mass velocity field. Another interesting work was published by (Jones, et al, 2010) to monitor and assess the structural health of draglines. They had announced that, by using ultrasonic waves and by studying both the diffraction pattern and the reflected waves, it is possible to detect and size cracking in a typical weld cluster.…”