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Method and apparatus for structural monitoring with acoustic emission and using pattern recognition

  • US 4,535,629 A
  • Filed: 03/16/1984
  • Issued: 08/20/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1984
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for detecting and locating flaws in metal bridges or other specimens subject to acoustical emission comprising, first, second and third acoustical transducers with means for attaching them to a bridge in a predetermined pattern with the transducers spaced generally in a straight line, a pulser connected to the one of said transducers which is mounted between the other two transducers, first and second amplifiers connected, respectively, to said first and second transducers, amplitude discriminating means connected to said first and second amplifiers to pass signals with amplitudes above a predetermined level, rate discrimination means connected to the output of said amplitude discriminating means to pass signals which have rates within predetermined criteria, location discriminating means receiving the outputs of said rate discriminating means to determine if the events which pass the energy and rate discrimination tests all come from the same location within preset tolerances, and locating flaws wherein said amplitude discriminating means and said rate discriminating means comprise a microcomputer, and wherein said location determining means is connected to said microcomputer.

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