SwRI Develops Magnetostrictive Probe for Safer, More Cost-Effective Storage Tank Inspections

New ultrasonic guided wave technology promises to revolutionize infrastructure maintenance.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has unveiled a groundbreaking magnetostrictive transducer (MST) probe that can dramatically improve how critical structures like storage tanks, pipelines, and ship hulls are inspected for corrosion. This non-destructive approach generates acoustic waves that detect flaws, offering significant cost savings and enhanced safety compared to traditional manual inspections.

Why it matters

Current storage tank inspection methods are costly and dangerous, often requiring tanks to be taken offline, emptied, and manually inspected by workers in confined spaces. SwRI's MST probe can inspect tanks from the outside, eliminating downtime and safety risks while providing detailed 2D maps of any corrosion or defects.

The details

The flexible MST 8x8 probe attaches to the outside of a structure and generates shear horizontal guided waves that travel through the material. Any anomalies like corrosion or cracks reflect these waves back to the probe's eight sensors. An advanced imaging algorithm then transforms the reflected waves into highly detailed 2D maps pinpointing the location and extent of any issues.

  • SwRI unveiled the MST probe technology in March 2026.

The players

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

A nonprofit research and development organization that has developed the magnetostrictive transducer (MST) probe technology for safer and more cost-effective infrastructure inspections.

Dr. Sergey Vinogradov

A researcher at SwRI who highlights the key benefits of the MST probe, including reduced downtime and improved safety for storage tank inspections.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The future of infrastructure maintenance is here, and it's riding on a wave – an ultrasonic guided wave, to be precise.”

— Dr. Sergey Vinogradov, Researcher, Southwest Research Institute (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

SwRI is offering the MST probe technology via equipment sales, licensing, and technology transfer to inspection companies across various industries.

The takeaway

SwRI's innovative MST probe represents a significant advancement in non-destructive testing, promising to revolutionize how critical infrastructure like storage tanks is inspected. By eliminating the need for manual, confined-space inspections, this technology can deliver substantial cost savings and safety improvements for companies across multiple sectors.