Nondestructive acoustic emission testing system using electromagnetic excitation and method for using same

• US 6,823,736 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Lasher, Markham E., Joshi, Narayan R., Brock, David W., Russell, Stephen D., Kasa, Shannon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US10/302,320
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 735/87, 736/01, 736/43, 324/637
• US Class Current: 73/587
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0423 Surface waves, e.g. Rayleigh waves, Love waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/102 one emitter, one receiver
• 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 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2418 using optoacoustic interaction with the material, e.g. laser radiation, photoacoustics photoacoustic cells G01N21/1702; measuring characteristics of vibrations by using radiation-sensitive means G01H9/00; acousto-optical conversion techniques for short-range imaging G01S15/8965; sound-producing devices using laser bundle G10K15/046
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/46 by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or wavelet analysis spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14

Abstract

A nondestructive acoustic emission testing system using electromagnetic excitation, comprises: a) an electromagnetic wave generator for generating electromagnetic waves that stimulate a test sample to generate acoustic energy; b) an acoustic energy sensor for detecting the acoustic energy and generating a first output signal that represents the acoustic energy; and c) a data processor for comparing the output signal with a reference and for generating a second output signal that represents a characteristic of the test sample.

Claims

1. A nondestructive testing system comprising:

a continuous wave electromagnetic wave generator;

a sensor acoustically coupled to a test sample for producing a first output signal;

a data processor for comparing said first output signal to a reference, said data processor producing a second output signal representing a change in the corrosion of said test sample.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said test sample is substantially enclosed by a waveguide.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said sensor is acoustically coupled to said test sample through an acoustic propagating medium.

4. A nondestructive testing system comprising:

a pulsed wave electromagnetic wave generator;

a sensor acoustically coupled to a test sample for producing a first output signal;

a data processor for comparing said first output signal to a reference, said data processor producing a second output signal representing a change in the corrosion of said test sample.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein said test sample is substantially enclosed by a waveguide.

6. A system according to claim 4 wherein said sensor is acoustically coupled to said test sample through an acoustic propagating medium.