ATS Provides World-Class Ultrasonic Testing Services
The Applied Technical Services (ATS) NDT Division offers ultrasonic rail testing. Our experts are SNT-TC-1A Certified Technicians offering thorough inspections to reduce the risk of rail failures —the second leading cause of railway accidents behind railcar defects. Rail failures can be caused by manufacturing defects, abnormal traffic effects, rail corrosion, poorly maintained joints, or improper welding. ATS provides ultrasonic rail testing solutions nationally and internationally to a variety of clients in the rail industry.
Types of Rails Inspected:
- Class 1 Railroads
- Commuter Rail
- Light Rail
- Monorails
- People Movers
- Ports
- Short Line
- Streetcar
- Trolley
Ultrasonic Testing
Ultrasonic testing is the most popular NDT method used on rails today. ATS offers traditional ultrasonic testing and phased array ultrasonic rail testing. This method is ideal for rail inspections since it can detect surface and subsurface fatigue fractures, material deformations, and weld discontinuities through ultrasound technology. It is applicable to most parts of the rail including rail heads, rail footers, and rail welds.
Common Defects Revealed Through Ultrasonic Rail Testing:
- Horizontal Cracks in Head
- Vertical-longitudinal Slit in Head
- Horizontal Crack at Web Foot Junction
- Horizontal Crack at Head Web Junction
- Bolt Hole Crack
- Transverse Fracture
- Transverse Fatigue Crack in Head
- Horizontal Crack at Stop and Bottom Fillet Radius
- Vertical – Longitudinal Crack in Foot
- Transverse Cracks in Rail Foot
- Lack of Fusion, Cracks, Porosity, Slag Inclusion in Welds
Thermite welds can be one of the most problematic regions of a rail system, making routine inspections imperative. Our experienced technicians are familiar with rail industry standards and codes. Our experts arrive on time, equipped with the proper tools, training, and experience to ensure accurate readings. We provide instant results and detailed reporting of weld inspection findings.
Additional Rail Testing Services
ATS provides comprehensive lab services beyond our field rail inspection capabilities. If you need to validate a manufacturing process or confirm quality assurance, our A2LA Accredited labs offer a wide variety of materials testing and chemical analysis services. In the non-destructive field, traditional and digital x-ray can reveal defects in the completed weld. As for destructive testing methods, out technicians can use metallography techniques to show the nature of potential defects in more detail.