Methods and systems for detecting flaws in an object
First Claim
1. A method for detecting flaws in an object, the method comprising:
- exciting the object at a resonant frequency of the object to determine a plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object to place a plurality of acoustic energy sources;
applying a static preload between respective contact points of the plurality of acoustic energy sources and the object such that the static preload prevents decoupling between the plurality of acoustic energy sources and the object when the object is excited;
applying acoustic energy to the determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object to excite the object at a respective resonant frequency of the object associated with the respective determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations;
recording a thermal response of the object to the application of acoustic energy;
and analyzing the thermal response to identify flaws within the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for evaluating the integrity of objects through non-destructive means. The objects are evaluated for flaws and defects through the use of applied acoustic energy. The applied acoustic energy creates a dynamic response of the object being evaluated to determine the location of any flaws or defects in the object. During excitation, the flaws and defects in a sample object generate heat at the damaged or defective regions through frictional interactions of the discontinuities. A flaw detection system includes, a plurality of acoustic energy sources to excite an object, a camera to record metrics of the response of the object and a processor configured to receive and analyze the response of the object.
13 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for detecting flaws in an object, the method comprising:
-
exciting the object at a resonant frequency of the object to determine a plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object to place a plurality of acoustic energy sources; applying a static preload between respective contact points of the plurality of acoustic energy sources and the object such that the static preload prevents decoupling between the plurality of acoustic energy sources and the object when the object is excited; applying acoustic energy to the determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object to excite the object at a respective resonant frequency of the object associated with the respective determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations; recording a thermal response of the object to the application of acoustic energy; and analyzing the thermal response to identify flaws within the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A system for detecting flaws in an object, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of acoustic energy sources held to the object with a static preload that prevents decoupling between the acoustic energy source and the object when the object is excited, the plurality of acoustic energy sources configured to excite the object at a resonant frequency of the object; a motion sensor configured to determine a plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object while the object is excited by one or more of the plurality of acoustic energy sources; a temperature sensor; a function generator configured to cause the plurality of acoustic energy sources to apply acoustic energy to the determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object at one or more respective resonant frequencies associated with the respective determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations; and a processor communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and the motion sensor, the processor configured to; receive data indicative of the plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the object from the motion sensor to determine placement locations on the object for the plurality of acoustic energy sources; receive, from the temperature sensor, data indicative of a thermal response of the object to the application of acoustic energy to the determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations at the one or more respective resonant frequencies; and analyze the thermal response to identify flaws within the object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for detecting flaws in a bond joint, the method comprising:
-
exciting the bond joint at a resonant frequency of the bond joint to determine a plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the bond joint to place a plurality of acoustic energy sources; applying a static preload between a contact point of the plurality of acoustic energy sources and the bond joint such that the static preload prevents decoupling between the plurality of acoustic energy sources and the bond joint; applying acoustic energy to the determined plurality of resonant anti-node locations on the bond joint to excite the bond joint at respective resonant frequencies associated with the respective determined resonant anti-node locations; recording a thermal response of the bond joint to the application of acoustic energy; and analyzing the thermal response to identify flaws within the bond joint. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification