System and method for ultrasonic phased array inspection of integral shroud drum stage T-root blades

A system for a volumetric examination of a blade root of a turbine blade, comprising:

• an ultrasonic phased array probe;
• a bracket defining a fixture, the bracket carried by and conforming to the geometry of a turbine shaft,
• wherein the probe is positioned within the fixture to position the probe to a desired position for generation of a scan of a portion of the blade root,
• wherein the probe is positioned within the fixture to position the probe to a desired offset gap for generation of the scan of the portion of the blade root,
• wherein the probe is positionable within the fixture to direct a wave in a direction to allow for scanning the portion of the blade root of the turbine blade;
• an ultrasonic signal source connected to the probe via a line that provides an ultrasonic pulse signal;
• and
• a receiver connected to the probe via the line for receiving reflected ultrasonic pulse signals,
• wherein the scan of the portion of the blade root is generated from the reflected ultrasonic pulse signals,
• wherein the bracket is sized to fit between a first turbine stage and a second turbine stage of the turbine shaft and translates around the turbine shaft relative to a longitudinal axis,
• wherein the scan of the portion of the blade root is initiated from at least one of the inlet side or the outlet side of the blade root,
• wherein the bracket is configured to translate circumferentially around the turbine shaft while maintaining the probe at the desired offset gap relative to a plurality of turbine blades installed in the turbine shaft to generate a continuous scan across multiple blade roots.