Nondestructive testing apparatus and method utilizing time-domain ramp signals
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A nondestructive testing apparatus comprising:
- a high frequency electrical pulse generator;
a first transducer for producing and detecting broadband pulses of ultrasonic energy including;
a support,a second transducer located on said support, electrically connected to said generator, for generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal,a nonlinear absorbing material disposed within said support and located adjacent to said first transducer for absorbing said carrier signal and parametrically generating a low frequency signal envelope having a waveform dependent upon said modulation, said low frequency signal envelope applied to a test structure for evaluation of defects,a nonresonant broadband receiver disposed on said support for receiving a reflected signal response from said structure; and
a display for viewing and evaluating said reflected response.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for nondestructive testing of structures where the apparatus includes a transducer for generating an ultrasonic acoustic signal, a nonlinear medium for parametrically generating a special, ramp, waveform, and an acousto-optic broadband receiver for detecting a reflected signal from the test structure. A homodyne interferometer is provided to measure the change of refractive index of the acousto-optic receiver, and generates an electrical signal representative of the reflected acoustic signal. Signature analysis techniques are utilized to evaluate the reflected waveform to determine the characteristics of the structural defects.
42 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A nondestructive testing apparatus comprising:
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a high frequency electrical pulse generator; a first transducer for producing and detecting broadband pulses of ultrasonic energy including; a support, a second transducer located on said support, electrically connected to said generator, for generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, a nonlinear absorbing material disposed within said support and located adjacent to said first transducer for absorbing said carrier signal and parametrically generating a low frequency signal envelope having a waveform dependent upon said modulation, said low frequency signal envelope applied to a test structure for evaluation of defects, a nonresonant broadband receiver disposed on said support for receiving a reflected signal response from said structure; and a display for viewing and evaluating said reflected response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of nondestructive testing comprising the steps of:
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electrically generating an intense acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal; parametrically generating a low frequency signal envelope by passing said ultrasonic acoustic signal through a nonlinear absorbing medium, said low frequency signal envelope having a waveform dependent upon said modulation; applying said low frequency signal to a test structure for the purpose of evaluating flaws therein; detecting a reflected signal backscattered from said test structure; and evaluating the waveform of said reflected signal for the location, cross-sectional area, volume, and length of any flaws within the test structure using signature analysis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A nondestructive testing apparatus comprising:
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a high frequency electrical pulse generator; means for producing and detecting broadband pulses of ultrasonic energy including; a support, a transducer located on said support, electrically connected to said generator, for generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, a nonlinear absorbing material disposed within said support and located adjacent to said first transducer for absorbing said carrier signal and parametrically generating a low frequency signal envelope having a waveform dependent upon said modulation, said low frequency signal envelope applied to a test structure for evaluation of defects, a nonresonant broadband receiver disposed on said support for receiving a reflected signal response from said structure; and
,a means for evaluating said reflected response.
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16. A nondestructive testing apparatus comprising:
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a high frequency electrical pulse generator; means for producing and detecting broadband pulses of ultrasonic energy including; a support, a transducer located on said support, electrically connected to said generator, for generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal, means for generating a time-domain acoustic ramp signal in response to said modulated acoustic signal disposed within said support and located adjacent to said transducer, said ramp signal applied to a test structure for evaluation of defects, a nonresonant broadband receiver disposed on said support for receiving a deflected signal response from said structure; and
,means for evaluating said reflected response.
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17. A nondestructive testing apparatus comprising:
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an electrical pulse generator;
means for producing and detecting broadbandpulses of ultrasonic energy including; a support, means for generating a time-domain acoustic ramp signal, electrically connected to said generator, and disposed within said support, said ramp signal dependent upon the shape of said pulse from said pulse generator, and said ramp signal applied to a test structure for evaluation of defects, a nonresonant broadband receiver disposed on said support for receiving a reflected signal response from said structure; and
,means for evaluating said reflected response.
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18. In a nondestructive testing apparatus for ultrasonically testing structures for defects using a pulse generator and a means for evaluating reflected signals, including, a means for producing and detecting broadband pulses of ultrasonic energy comprising:
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a support, means for generating a time-domain acoustic ramp signal in response to electrical pulses from said generator, disposed within said support, said ramp signal dependent upon the shape of said electrical pulse and applied to said test structure for evaluation of said defects; and
,a nonresonant broadband receiver disposed on said support for receiving a reflected signal response from said structure.
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19. A method of nondestructive testing comprising the steps of:
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electrically generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal; parametrically generating an acoustic ramp signal by passing said ultrasonic acoustic signal through a nonlinear absorbing medium, said ramp signal having a waveform dependent upon said modulation; applying said low frequency signal to a test structure for purposes of evaluating flaws therein; detecting a reflected signal back-scattered from said test structure; and evaluating said waveform of said reflected signal for the location, cross-sectional area, volume, and length of any flaws within the test structure using signature analysis.
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20. A method of nondestructive testing comprising the steps of:
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generating an electrical pulse having a predefined shape; generating a time-domain acoustic ramp signal in response to said electrical pulse; applying said ramp signal to a test structure for the purpose of evaluating flaws therein; detecting a reflected signal back-scattered from said test structure; and
,evaluating said waveform of said reflected signal for the location, cross-sectional area, volume and length of any flaws within the test structure using signature analysis.
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21. A method of nondestructive testing comprising the steps of:
- electrically generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal;
parametrically generating a low frequency signal envelope by passing said ultrasonic acoustic signal through a non-linear absorbing medium, said low frequency signal envelope having a waveform dependent upon said modulation; applying said low frequency signal to a test structure for the purpose of evaluating flaws therein; detecting a reflecting signal back-scattered from said test structure wherein said step of detecting said reflected signal includes measuring the change in the refractive index of an optical fiber resulting from the presence of said reflected signal; and
,evaluating the waveform of said reflected signal for the location, cross-sectional area, volume, and length of any flaws within the test structure using signature analysis.
- electrically generating an acoustic signal with a modulated ultrasonic carrier signal;
Specification