Acoustic emission source location by reverse ray tracing
First Claim
1. A method of locating an acoustic emission source in a structure by reverse ray tracing comprising:
- a. utilizing an azimuth acoustic emission sensor having an array of individual elemental detectors which independently and sequentially respond to the passage of an acoustic stress wave, electronically monitoring the response of each element of the array, and analyzing the individual responses to the acoustic stress wave to determine the azimuth approach angle of the wave to the azimuth acoustic emission sensor; and
b. providing an accurate measurement of the true location of the acoustic emission signal source by reverse ray tracing by using a parallel processing arrangement having a plurality of parallel processing elements in which the structure is modeled in a computer on a one to one basis, with each parallel processing element simulating and having structural data on one discrete area of the structure in a database, and the determined azimuth approach angle is an input to the parallel processing arrangement, such that a simulated wave propagation takes place in the computer model as if it were propagating in the structure, and the actual location of the acoustic emission source is determined by reverse ray tracing by taking into account the structure of the intervening path and the most probable perturbations of the wave therein.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of locating an acoustic emission source in a structure by reverse ray tracing. An azimuth acoustic emission sensor is utilized which has an array of individual elemental detectors which independently and sequentially respond to the passage of an acoustic stress wave. The response of each element of the array is electronically monitored, and individual responses to the acoustic stress wave are analyzed to determine the azimuth approach angle of the wave to the azimuth acoustic emission sensor. An accurate measurement of the true location of the acoustic emission signal source is then provided by reverse ray tracing by using a parallel processing arrangement having a plurality of parallel processing elements. The structure is modeled in the computer on a one to one basis, with each parallel processing element simulating and having structural data on one discrete area of the structure. The determined azimuth approach angle is an input to the parallel processing arrangement, such that a simulated wave propagation takes place in the computer model as if it were propagating in the structure, and the actual location of the acoustic emission source is determined by reverse ray tracing by taking into account the structure of the intervening path of the wave and the most probable perturbations of the wave therein. The present invention has particular applicability to aircraft structures, and the method is utilized to locate structural defects therein.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A method of locating an acoustic emission source in a structure by reverse ray tracing comprising:
-
a. utilizing an azimuth acoustic emission sensor having an array of individual elemental detectors which independently and sequentially respond to the passage of an acoustic stress wave, electronically monitoring the response of each element of the array, and analyzing the individual responses to the acoustic stress wave to determine the azimuth approach angle of the wave to the azimuth acoustic emission sensor; and b. providing an accurate measurement of the true location of the acoustic emission signal source by reverse ray tracing by using a parallel processing arrangement having a plurality of parallel processing elements in which the structure is modeled in a computer on a one to one basis, with each parallel processing element simulating and having structural data on one discrete area of the structure in a database, and the determined azimuth approach angle is an input to the parallel processing arrangement, such that a simulated wave propagation takes place in the computer model as if it were propagating in the structure, and the actual location of the acoustic emission source is determined by reverse ray tracing by taking into account the structure of the intervening path and the most probable perturbations of the wave therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification