Combined ultrasonic techniques for evaluations (CUTE)

• US 6,532,820 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sierra Matrix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sierra Matrix, Inc.
• Inventors: Clark, Robert M., Fleming, Marvin F., Clark, Jack P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MOLLER, RICHARD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/890,616
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 735/96, 736/02, 736/18, 736/19, 736/20, 736/25, 736/27, 736/28
• US Class Current: 73/627
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/015 Attenuation, scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/102 one emitter, one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2675 Seam, butt welding
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/0609 Display arrangements, e.g. colour displays indicating or recording in connection with measuring in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/0645 Display representation or displayed parameters, e.g. A-, B- or C-Scan
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/348 with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals measuring frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04; measuring frequency or analysing frequency spectra G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5206 Two-dimensional coordinated display of distance and direction; B-scan display

Abstract

An ultrasonic image process and system for accurately evaluating the quality of a weld using ultrasonic responses and operator entered data to enhance the quality of weld inspection. Ultrasonic responses useful in accurately indicating the actual location of the weldment, detecting the actual component thickness and the location and characteristic of any other relevant ultrasonic reflectors located in or near the weld heat effected zone are input to a composite image of a weldment for the purpose of enhancing the quality and the ease of detecting, evaluating and sizing of weld defects. Through the superposition of ultrasonic image data from additional complimentary sensors and operator inputs based on prior known data, useful images can be formed to improve the decision making in weldment inspection and evaluation.

Claims

1. A method for producing a superpositioned ultrasonic B-scan image of a workpiece having a top and bottom surface to locate flaws, failures and anomalies of various types in a variety of materials, and to map external surface geometry with a multichannel ultrasonic imaging system, said method comprising the steps of:

a. directing a first sonic beam of a first frequency from a first channel of said multichannel ultrasonic imaging system toward a first surface of said workpiece at a first angle with respect to said first surface as said workpiece is scanned;

b. utilizing a second channel of said multichannel imaging system to exercise said first surface of said workpiece as said workpiece is scanned;

c. detecting reflections of said first sonic beam from said workpiece over time;

d. developing a B-scan image from said detected reflections of said first sonic beam from step c.;

e. detecting data from said second channel;

f. developing an image from said detected data from said second channel; and

g. superpositioning said B-scan image of step d. with said image of step f. to create a composite of said images from which to determine the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein:

step b. consists of the step of;

h. directing a second sonic beam of a second frequency from said second channel of said multichannel ultrasonic imaging system toward said first surface of said workpiece at a second angle with respect to said first surface as said workpiece is scanned;

step e. consists of the step of;

i. detecting reflections of said second sonic beam from said workpiece over time;

step f. consists of the step of;

j. independently developing a B-scan image from said detected reflections of said second sonic beam from step i.; and

step g. consists of the step of;

k. superpositioning said B-scan image of step d. with said B-scan image of step j. to create a composite of said B-scan images from which to determine the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein:

step b. consists of the step of;

h. positioning a stylus in contact with said first surface of said workpiece to follow a profile of said first surface as said workpiece is scanned;

step e. consists of the step of;

i. electronically monitoring positions of said stylus of step h. to develop an signal corresponding to said profile of said first surface as said workpiece is scanned;

step f. consists of the step of;

j. independently developing an image of said profile of said fist surface from said signal from step i.; and

step g. consists of the step of;

k. superpositioning said B-scan image of step d. with said profile image of step j. to create a composite image from which to determine the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein:

a relative spacing between a first point on said first surface where step a. acts and a second point on said first surface where step b. acts is known; and

step g. consists of the steps of;

h. offsetting said image of step d. by an amount of distance that correlates to said relative spacing;

i. superimposing said B-scan image of step d. with said offset image of step h. to form a composite image with all of the detected features at any point in said composite image relating directly to a same point of said first surface of said workpiece.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein said B-scan image of step d. is one of a threshold type B-scan, B′

-scan and a profile generated B-scan in conjunction with an amplitude type B-scan.

6. The method as in claim 2 wherein said B-scan image of steps d. and j. are each independently selected to be one of a threshold type B-scan, a B′

-scan and a profile generated B-scan in conjunction with an amplitude type B-scan, to enhance the detection of a feature of interest in said workpiece.

7. A method for producing an ultrasonic B-scan image or B′

-scan image of a weld in a workpiece having a top and bottom surface to locate the basemetal to weld interface, the weld thickness and location of a weld toe, the basemetal thickness, the thickness of dissimilar materials, the location of the external surface geometry, and to do this from one or both sides of the weld;

ostensibly to locate anomalies of any size and orientation, said method comprising the steps of;

a. directing a first sonic beam perpendicular to a first surface of said workpiece and said weld, and imaging a corresponding reflected response as a threshold B-scan;

b. directing a second sonic beam having a first frequency at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to said first surface of said workpiece toward said weld, and imaging a corresponding reflected response as an amplitude B-scan;

c. individually developing B-scan signals from each of said detected reflections of said first and second sonic beams from steps a. and b.; and

d. superimposing said B-scan signals of step c. to enable the determination of the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece and said weld.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein:

said method further includes the step of;

e. directing a third sonic beam having a second frequency that is higher than said first frequency at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to said first surface of said workpiece toward said weld, and imaging a corresponding reflected response as one of a threshold B-scan and an amplitude B-scan to best detect a desired feature;

step c. includes the step of;

f. individually developing a B-scan signal from said detected reflection of said third sonic beam of step e.; and

step d. includes the step of;

g. superimposing said B-scan signal of step f. together with those of steps c. to enable the determination of the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece and said weld.

9. A multichannel ultrasonic imaging system to produce a superpositioned ultrasonic B-scan image of a workpiece having a top and bottom surface to locate flaws, failures and anomalies of various types in a variety of materials, and to map external surface geometry comprising:

first data channel electronics including;

a first sonic beam transducer disposed to direct a first sonic beam of a first frequency toward a first surface of said workpiece at a first angle with respect to said first surface and to detect reflections of said first sonic beam from said workpiece over time; and

a first encoder coupled to said first sonic beam transducer to preprocess said reflections of said first sonic beam from said workpiece;

second data channel electronics including;

a second transducer disposed to exercise said first surface of said workpiece and generate data relative to said first surface of said workpiece; and

a second encoder coupled to said second transducer to preprocess said data from said second transducer; and

a computer coupled to said first and second data channel electronics to develop a first B-scan image from said preprocessed reflections from said first encoder, to develop a second image from said preprocessed data from said second encoder, and to superposition said B-scan image from said reflections from said first encoder with said data image from said second encoder to create a composite of said images from which to determine the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece.

10. The multichannel ultrasonic imaging system as in claim 9 wherein:

said second transducer is a second sonic beam transducer disposed to direct a second sonic beam of a second frequency toward a first surface of said workpiece at a second angle with respect to said first surface and to detect reflections of said second sonic beam from said workpiece over time;

said second encoder coupled to said first sonic beam transducer to preprocess said reflections of said second sonic beam from said workpiece; and

said computer independently develops a second B-scan image from said detected reflections of said second sonic beam, and superpositions said first and second B-scan images to create a composite B-scan image from which to determine the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece.

11. The multichannel ultrasonic imaging system as in claim 9 wherein:

said second transducer is a stylus disposed to be in contact with said first surface of said workpiece to follow a profile of said first surface as said workpiece is scanned;

said second encoder coupled to said stylus electronically monitors positions of said stylus to develop an signal corresponding to said profile of said first surface as said workpiece is scanned; and

said computer independently develops an image of said profile of said first surface, and superpositions said first B-scan image with said image of said profile to create a composite B-scan image from which to determine the existence and location of various detected features of said workpiece.

12. The multichannel ultrasonic imaging system as in claim 9 wherein:

a relative spacing between said first sonic beam transducer and said second transducer; and

said computer in superpositioning of said first B-scan image and said second image first offsets said second image an amount of distance that correlates to said relative spacing, and then superimposing said first B-scan image with said offset second image to form a composite image with all of the detected features at any point in said composite image relating directly to a same point of said first surface of said workpiece.

13. The multichannel ultrasonic imaging system as in claim 9 wherein said first B-scan image is one of a threshold type B-scan, B′

-scan and a profile generated B-scan in conjunction with an amplitude type B-scan.

14. The multichannel ultrasonic imaging system as in claim 10 wherein each of said first and second B-scan images is independently selected to be one of a threshold type B-scan, B′

-scan and a profile generated B-scan in conjunction with an amplitude type B-scan.