Device and method for non-destructive ultrasound inspection of structures made of composite material
First Claim
1. A diagnostic device for detecting defects in a thickness of a laminated composite panel, the device comprising:
- an ultrasonic probe comprising a wheel housing a plurality of elementary transducers, wherein the wheel is configured to be placed into contact with a laminated composite panel;
an electronic device, in communication with each of said transducers, and configured to control emission and reception of ultrasonic pulses by said probe by the activation of at least one of the elementary transducers; and
,a display device, in communication with the electronic device, and configured to;
analyze reflections of ultrasonic signals received by the elementary transducers during an inspection of said laminated composite panel in order to detect a defect and,display, on a display screen, at least one dimension of the defect by automatically analyzing one or more attributes of the reflective signals and sorting the attributes into clusters according to thickness,wherein the clusters define zones without damages, wherein a space between the clusters define a defect zone, andwherein the defect zone is dimensioned by the display device using the zones without damages as limits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for detecting delamination in a panel of laminated composite. The device comprises an ultrasonic probe with a plurality of elementary transducers, an electronic device in communication with the elementary transducers, and a display device. The transducers emit an ultrasonic pulse and receive a pulse reflected by an element in the panel. The received pulses are grouped into clusters of healthy, or non-damaged, zones and damaged zones. The dimensions of the damaged zones are based upon the limits formed by healthy zones. A display of the defect with dimensions is produced on the display device. A scale image of the defect with dimensions, via paper or digital overlay, can be placed on the panel.
28 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A diagnostic device for detecting defects in a thickness of a laminated composite panel, the device comprising:
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an ultrasonic probe comprising a wheel housing a plurality of elementary transducers, wherein the wheel is configured to be placed into contact with a laminated composite panel; an electronic device, in communication with each of said transducers, and configured to control emission and reception of ultrasonic pulses by said probe by the activation of at least one of the elementary transducers; and
,a display device, in communication with the electronic device, and configured to; analyze reflections of ultrasonic signals received by the elementary transducers during an inspection of said laminated composite panel in order to detect a defect and, display, on a display screen, at least one dimension of the defect by automatically analyzing one or more attributes of the reflective signals and sorting the attributes into clusters according to thickness, wherein the clusters define zones without damages, wherein a space between the clusters define a defect zone, and wherein the defect zone is dimensioned by the display device using the zones without damages as limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for detecting delamination in a panel of laminated composite, said panel having a front face, said method using a diagnostic apparatus including:
- an ultrasonic probe comprising a plurality of elementary transducers, an electronic device in communication with the elementary transducers, and a display device, wherein the method comprises;
emitting ultrasonic pulses from the elementary transducers into the panel while the ultrasonic probe is in contact with the front face and receiving ultrasonic pulses reflected by the panel; determining a value of a coupling indicator representing a coupling of the probe with the front face, wherein the determination is performed using data representing the emitted ultrasonic pulses and the received ultrasonic pulses; comparing a value of the coupling indicator with a predetermined value; and
,if the value of the coupling indicator is equal to or greater than said predetermined value, activating a sequence of the elementary transducers by; emitting an ultrasonic pulse by each of the plurality of elementary transducers toward the panel; receiving by each of the elementary transducers a pulse reflected by the panel; and
,determining a dimension of a defect based on the plurality of reflected pulses received, wherein the dimension of the defect is determined by sorting the plurality of reflected pulses received according to one or more attributes of the reflected pulses into clusters according to their thickness, wherein the clusters define zones without damages, wherein a space between the clusters without damages define a defect zone, and wherein the defect zone is dimensioned by using the zones without damages as limits. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- an ultrasonic probe comprising a plurality of elementary transducers, an electronic device in communication with the elementary transducers, and a display device, wherein the method comprises;
Specification