Device for controlling and measuring welding defects on a cylindrical wall and method implementing same

A method for inspecting and measuring weld defects in a cylindrical wall of a cylindrical conduit, comprising:

• providing a device comprising an inspection head forming a probe having a proximal end and a distal end along its longitudinal axis, and of which a first side called “inner side” is provided with at least one ultrasound wave transducer, wherein:
• the inspection head comprises a second side, called “outer side” opposite the first side that has a curved surface in the form of a cylinder fraction, with a second longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inspection head, and wherein the curved surface of the second side has outward facing convexity;
• the wave transducer is formed of a series of juxtaposed elements, each element being both a transmitter and receiver, wherein a surface of the series is curved and in the form of a cylinder fraction having a third longitudinal axis that is co-planar with the longitudinal axis of the inspection head, and wherein the surface of the series has outward facing concavity;
• and
• a first plane parallel to the first side and a second plane parallel to the second side, wherein an angle between the first plane and the second plane is a nonzero acute angle β;
• inserting the inspection head inside the cylindrical conduit, wherein the outer side of the inspection head has a same radius of curvature as an inner wall of the cylindrical conduit;
• applying the outer side against the inner wall;
• and
• scanning at least part of the inner wall during which the outer side remains in contact with the inner wall.