3D acoustic imaging using sensor array, longitudinal wave and algebraic reconstruction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for evaluating the health of a component, the system comprising:
- a reinforced matrix;
a plurality of piezoelectric transmitters coupled to the component configured to produce lamb waves in the component;
a plurality of sensors coupled to the component, the sensors configured to receive the lamb waves transmitted through the component from the piezoelectric transmitters; and
a circuit configured to collect and store the lamb waves received by the sensors, the circuit further configured to receive the lamb waves and process the lamb waves to form an image of a defect within the component; and
a processor configured to perform an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm and wherein the algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm functions to convert the lamb waves into a image of a defect within the component, wherein the component comprises a composite material structure having a plurality of reinforced polymer layers, and wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed in a layer disposed between at least two reinforced polymer layers.
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Abstract
A mobile platform is provided which has at least one component having an array of distributed piezoelectric transmitters and an associated array of distributed receivers. The receivers are configured to receive ultrasonic transmissions from the transmitters. Data from the receivers is stored in memory and processed through an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm which forms an image of the defect within the component. An algorithm is used to determine the position and size of the defect.
39 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for evaluating the health of a component, the system comprising:
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a reinforced matrix; a plurality of piezoelectric transmitters coupled to the component configured to produce lamb waves in the component; a plurality of sensors coupled to the component, the sensors configured to receive the lamb waves transmitted through the component from the piezoelectric transmitters; and a circuit configured to collect and store the lamb waves received by the sensors, the circuit further configured to receive the lamb waves and process the lamb waves to form an image of a defect within the component; and a processor configured to perform an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm and wherein the algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm functions to convert the lamb waves into a image of a defect within the component, wherein the component comprises a composite material structure having a plurality of reinforced polymer layers, and wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed in a layer disposed between at least two reinforced polymer layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for evaluating the health of a component, the system comprising:
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a reinforced matrix; a plurality of piezoelectric transmitters coupled to the component configured to produce lamb waves in the component; a plurality of sensors coupled to the component, the sensors configured to receive the lamb waves transmitted through the component from the piezoelectric transmitters; and a circuit configured to collect and store the lamb waves received by the sensors, the circuit further configured to receive the lamb waves and process the lamb waves to form an image of a defect within the component; and a processor configured to perform an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm and wherein the algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm functions to convert the lamb waves into a image of a defect within the component, wherein the component comprises a cured thermoplastic composite.
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10. A system for analyzing the health of a reinforced composite structure, the system comprising:
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a plurality of transceivers configured to send and receive lamb waves, said transceivers being disposed within the reinforced structure; a switching component coupled to the transceivers; a processor coupled to the switching component, wherein the switching component is configured to recursively enable a single transceiver to individually transmit the lamb wave in the form of a broad band vibrational pulse while at least one of the remaining transceivers is configured to receive the vibrational pulse, said switching component further being configured to couple the transceivers to a processor, said processor being configured to receive the lamb waves and process the lamb waves to form an image of a defect within the reinforced composite structure, wherein said composite structure has a plurality of reinforced polymer layers, and wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed between any two of the plurality of reinforced polymer layers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of detecting a defect within a thermoplastic composite structure, the method comprising:
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operably coupling an array of vibrational transceivers to the thermoplastic structure, said array having a transmitting transceiver and a plurality of receiving transceivers; recursively enabling a plurality of transceivers of the array to individually transmit a broad band vibrational pulse and record the transmitted pulse using the receiving transceivers; providing a processor configured to run an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm on the recorded pulse to form a first image of the defect within the thermoplastic composite structure; running the algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm to form a first image of the defect; storing data relating to the first image; after a predetermined time, recursively enabling each of a plurality of transceivers of the array to individually transmit a second set of broad band vibrational pulses and recording the transmitted pulses using a plurality of non-transmitting transceivers; running the algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm to form a second image; and comparing data related to the first image to data related to the second image to evaluate a change in the defect. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for evaluating the health of a component, the system comprising:
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an array of piezoelectric transducers coupled to the component, the piezoelectric transducers configured to produce lamb waves; a means for coupling the piezoelectric transducers to processors; a means for collecting and storing the lamb waves received by the piezoelectric transducers; and a means for performing an algebraic reconstruction tomography to convert the lamb waves into an image of a defect within the component, wherein the component comprises a composite material having a plurality of reinforced polymer layers, and wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed between any two of the plurality of reinforced polymer layers. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification