SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE INSPECTION OF STRUCTURES HAVING UNKNOWN PROPERTIES

• US 20100217544A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FBS, Inc. (INFRONEER Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FBS, Inc. (INFRONEER Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: ROSE, Joseph L., YAN, Fei
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/011 Velocity or travel time
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0289 Internal structure, e.g. defects, grain size, texture
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/104 two or more emitters, one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2456 Focusing probes focusing arrangements G01N29/221
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/341 with time characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/346 with amplitude characteristics, e.g. modulated signal

Abstract

An inspection method includes driving a plurality of spaced apart transmitting transducer elements with a respective time delay and a respective frequency such that each of the transmitting transducer elements transmits an ultrasonic guided wave through a transmission medium defined by a material having at least one unknown physical property. The ultrasonic guided waves are received at a receiving transducer element disposed at a distance from the transmitting transducer elements. A respective time delay and a respective frequency for each of the transmitting transducer elements is determined that provides a maximum amplitude in a signal received at the receiving transducer element. The plurality of transmitting transducer elements are activated in accordance with the determined time delays and frequencies to transmit inspection signals through the transmission medium. A location of a defect in the material is determined based on velocities of the inspection signals received at the receiving transducer element.

Claims

1. An inspection system, comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart transmitting transducer elements for coupling to a surface of a material defining a transmission medium and having at least one unknown physical property, each of the transmitting transducer elements configured to transmit ultrasonic guided wave signals through the transmission medium;

a receiving transducer element for coupling to the surface of the material at a distance from the plurality of transmitting transducer elements, the receiving transducer configured to receive ultrasonic guided wave signals through the transmission medium; and

a control and processing device in signal communication with each of the transducer elements, the control and processing device including;

a computer readable storage medium configured to store a plurality of time delays for applying to each of the transducer elements; and

a processor in signal communication with the computer readable storage medium, the processor configured to

apply the time delays and a driving frequency to the transmitting transducer elements,

determine a respective time delay and frequency for each of the transmitting transducer elements that provides a maximum amplitude in a signal received at the receiving transducer element,

activate each of the plurality of transmitting transducer elements in accordance with the determined time delay and frequency to transmit an inspection signal through the transmission medium, and

determine a location of a defect in the material based on a velocity of the inspection signal received at the receiving transducer element.

2. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting transducer elements are disposed on the surface of the material in a linear array.

3. The inspection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of receiving transducer elements disposed on the surface of the material in a linear array.

4. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting transducer elements are disposed in a concentric circular array.

5. The inspection system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of receiving transducer elements disposed in a concentric circular array surrounding the transmitting transducer elements.

6. The inspection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one unknown property of the material prevents a dispersion curve from being determined.

7. An inspection method, comprising:

driving each of a plurality of spaced apart transmitting transducer elements with a respective time delay and a respective frequency such that each of the transmitting transducer elements transmits an ultrasonic guided wave through a transmission medium defined by a material having at least one unknown physical property;

receiving the ultrasonic guided waves at a receiving transducer element disposed on the surface of the material at a distance from the plurality of transmitting transducer elements;

determining a respective time delay and a respective frequency for each of the transmitting transducer elements that provides a maximum amplitude in a signal received the receiving transducer element;

activating each of the plurality of transmitting transducer elements in accordance with the determined time delays and frequencies to transmit inspection signals through the transmission medium, and

determining a location of a defect in the material based on velocities of the inspection signals received at the receiving transducer element.

8. The inspection method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting transducer elements are disposed on the surface of the material in a linear array.

9. The inspection method of claim 7, wherein a plurality of receiving transducer elements are disposed on the surface of the material in a linear array.

10. The inspection method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting transducer elements are disposed in a concentric circular array.

11. The inspection method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of receiving transducer elements are disposed in a concentric circular array surrounding the transmitting transducer elements.

12. The inspection method of claim 7, wherein the at least one unknown property of the material prevents a dispersion curve from being determined.

13. The inspection method of claim 7, further comprising:

storing the location of the defect in a computer readable storage medium.

14. The inspection method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the location of the defect to a user on a display device.

15. A computer readable storage medium encoded with program code, wherein when the program code is executed by a processor, the processor performs a method, the method comprising:

driving each of a plurality of spaced apart transmitting transducer elements with a respective time delay and a respective frequency such that each of the transmitting transducer elements transmits an ultrasonic guided wave through a transmission medium defined by a material having at least one unknown physical property;

receiving the ultrasonic guided waves at a receiving transducer element disposed on the surface of the material at a distance from the transmitting transducer elements;

determining a respective time delay and a respective frequency for each of the transmitting transducer elements that provides a maximum amplitude in a signal received at the receiving transducer element;

activating each of the plurality of transmitting transducer elements in accordance with the determined time delays and frequencies to transmit inspection signals through the transmission medium, and

determining a location of a defect in the material based on velocities of the inspection signals received at the receiving transducer element.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the transmitting transducer elements are disposed on the surface of the material in a linear array.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein a plurality of receiving transducer elements are disposed on the surface of the material in a linear array.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the transmitting transducer elements are disposed in a concentric circular array.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein a plurality of receiving transducer elements are disposed in a concentric circular array surrounding the transmitting transducer elements.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the at least one unknown property of the material prevents a dispersion curve from being determined.