Managing non-destructive evaluation data

• US 9,804,997 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etegent Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Etegent Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sharp, Thomas D., Roth, II, Richard A., Liggett, Uriah M., Kesler, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAU, TUNG S
• Application Number:
  US13/926,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 702 81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/10 Complex mathematical operations function generation by table look-up G06F1/03; evaluation of elementary functions by calculation G06F7/544
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Methods manage non-destructive evaluation (“NDE”) data. NDE data for an asset is received and at least one alignment algorithm to align the NDE data to a simulated model associated therewith is determined. The NDE data is automatically aligned to the simulated model, a display representation that visually represents the aligned NDE data on the simulated model is generated, and information about the aligned NDE data is exported. Additionally, second NDE data associated with the at least a portion of the asset may also be received, at least one alignment algorithm to align the data determined, and the second NDE data aligned. Respective indications associated with the first and second NDE data may be determined and visually represented on the simulated model. Moreover, a shot descriptor file may be analyzed to determine whether additional NDE data is required to complete an alignment of NDE data.

Claims

1. A method of managing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data for manufacturing and/or maintenance purposes in a system of the type that includes at least one processing unit and a memory, the method comprising:

retrieving a first dataset of NDE data for at least a portion of a first asset of a particular type of asset, wherein the first asset comprises a physical object from which the first dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the first asset;

retrieving a second dataset of NDE data for at least a portion of a second asset of the same particular type of asset, wherein the second asset comprises a physical object from which the second NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the second asset;

the first and second datasets containing inspection information for the respective asset wherein the inspection information of a dataset includes information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the dataset;

the first dataset and the second dataset of NDE data having previously been aligned to an independent simulated model of the at least a portion of an asset of the particular type of asset with an alignment algorithm selected based on an evaluation of the datasets, the model being a previously existing computer depiction of a geometrical representation of the physical object of the particular type of asset, the simulated model further being independently generated with respect to the NDE data of the first and second datasets using at least one of golden NDE data or data from a CAD/CADD program;

processing the first dataset of NDE data to determine a first indication of a potential problem and a corresponding first location of the first indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;

processing the second dataset of NDE data to determine a second indication of a potential problem and a corresponding second location of the second indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model; and

using the at least one processing unit, determining a trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset across the multiple assets based at least in part on the determined first location and the determined second location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dataset of NDE data is retrieved in response to a request from a user to retrieve the first dataset of NDE data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the independent simulated model; and

generating a display representation that visually represents the retrieved first dataset of NDE data and the second dataset of NDE data aligned on the geometrical representation of the independent simulated model.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving an indication of a potential problem associated with the first dataset of NDE data; and

retrieving a determined location for the indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving first inspection information associated with a dataset for the at least a portion of the first asset, wherein the first inspection information includes at least one of data that is usable to align the first dataset of NDE data, data that indicates a potential problem with the at least a portion of the first asset, or data about the at least a portion of the first asset;

retrieving second inspection information associated with a dataset for the at least a portion of the second asset, wherein the second inspection information includes at least one of data that is usable to align the second dataset of NDE data, data that indicates a potential problem with the at least a portion of the second asset, or data about the at least a portion of the second asset; and

wherein determining the trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset is based at least in part on the first inspection information and the second inspection information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving inspection information associated with the at least a portion of the first asset, wherein the inspection information includes at least one of data that is usable to align the first dataset of NDE data, data that indicates a potential problem with the at least a portion of the first asset, or data about the at least a portion of the first asset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset is a population-wide trend for the particular type of asset.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising exporting information associated with the retrieved indication.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset is a population-wide trend for the particular type of asset.

10. A method of managing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) data for manufacturing and/or maintenance purposes, the method comprising:

retrieving, by at least one processor, a first dataset of NDE data for a portion of a first asset of a particular type of asset in a population of assets, the first dataset of NDE data having previously been aligned to a simulated model that is a previously existing computer depiction of a geometrical representation of the physical object of the particular type of asset, wherein the first dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the first asset;

retrieving, by the at least one processor, a second dataset of NDE data for a portion of a second asset of the same particular type of asset in the population of assets, the second dataset of NDE data having previously been aligned to the simulated model, wherein the second dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the second asset;

the datasets being aligned with an alignment algorithm selected based on an evaluation of the datasets;

the first and second datasets containing inspection information for the respective asset wherein the inspection information of a dataset includes information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the dataset;

the simulated model being independently generated with respect to the NDE data of the first and second datasets using at least one of golden NDE data or data from a CAD/CADD program;

processing the first dataset of NDE data to determine a first indication of a potential problem and a corresponding first location of the first indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;

processing the second dataset of NDE data to determine a second indication of a potential problem and a corresponding second location of the second indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model; and

determining, by the at least one processor, a trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset associated with the population of assets based at least in part on the determined first location and the determined second location.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor, a first indication of a potential problem associated with the portion of the first asset based at least in part on the first dataset of NDE data; and

retrieving, by the at least one processor, the second dataset of NDE data based at least in part on the potential problem.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating, on a display, a representation of one or both of the first dataset of NDE data and the second dataset of NDE data aligned to the geometrical representation of the independent simulated model.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

aligning the first dataset of NDE data to the model with an alignment algorithm; and

aligning the second dataset of NDE data to the model with the alignment algorithm.

14. A computer program product for use in manufacturing and/or maintenance comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

retrieve a first dataset of NDE data for a portion of a first asset of a particular type of asset, the first dataset of NDE data containing inspection information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the first dataset and having previously been aligned to a simulated model that is a previously existing computer depiction of a geometrical representation of the physical object of the particular type of asset, wherein the first dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the first asset;

retrieve a second dataset of NDE data for a portion of a second asset of the same particular type of asset, the second dataset of NDE data containing inspection information that is indicative of a potential problem at a location in the NDE data of the second dataset and having previously been aligned to the simulated model, wherein the second dataset of NDE data is collected during non-destructive evaluation of the second asset;

the simulated model being independently generated with respect to the NDE data of the first and second datasets using at least one of golden NDE data or data from a CAD/CADD program;

process the first dataset of NDE data to determine a first indication of a potential problem and a corresponding first location of the first indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model;

process the second dataset of NDE data to determine a second indication of a potential problem and a corresponding second location of the second indication of the potential problem on the independent simulated model; and

determine a trend that is reflective of repeated indications of a potential problem in a portion of the particular type of asset based at least in part on the determined first location and the determined second location.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the trend is a population-wide trend for the particular type of asset.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

generate, on a display, a representation of one or both of the first dataset of NDE data and the second dataset of NDE data aligned to the geometrical representation of the independent simulated model.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

retrieve first inspection information associated with a dataset for the at least a portion of the first asset, wherein the first inspection information includes at least one of data that is usable to align the first dataset of NDE data, data that indicates a potential problem with the at least a portion of the first asset, or data about the at least a portion of the first asset;

retrieve second inspection information associated with a dataset for the at least a portion of the second asset, wherein the second inspection information includes at least one of data that is usable to align the second dataset of NDE data, data that indicates a potential problem with the at least a portion of the second asset, or data about the at least a portion of the second asset; and

wherein determining the trend is based at least in part on the first inspection information and the second inspection information.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

retrieve inspection information associated with the at least a portion of the first asset, wherein the inspection information includes at least one of data that is usable to align the first dataset of NDE data, data that indicates a potential problem with the at least a portion of the first asset, or data about the at least a portion of the first asset.