METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ULTRASONIC DETECTION OF INTERNAL DEFECTS IN A COMPONENT, IN PARTICULAR FOR AN AIRCRAFT

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for ultrasonic detection of internal defects of a part, in particular for an aircraft. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Although not exclusively, this process is intended more particularly to provide assistance in the control of parts obtained by a DED (Direct Energy Deposition) type manufacturing method, and in particular for the manufacturing of parts intended for aircraft, in particular transport aircraft.

[0003] As is known, such a DED (or concentrated energy deposition) manufacturing method is an additive manufacturing (or 3D printing) method for which a material is deposited on a support and focused thermal energy is used to melt the material as it is deposited. The material, a powder or a wire, is deposited by a nozzle, and is immediately melted by a laser or electron beam, or by arc deposition technologies (for example by using plasma). This process is most often used with metal powders or wires (alloy based on aluminum, titanium or nickel, etc.). DED technology has several advantages over more conventional metal additive manufacturing processes, including high manufacturing speed and the possible manufacture of large parts.

[0004] It is known that such a DED-type manufacturing method generates or can generate defects such as porosities or lack of fusion in the manufactured parts. In the context of the present invention, internal "defects" of a part are understood to mean at least a partial absence of material in the material forming the part.

[0005] Porosity is generally detectable by standard methods such as radiography and ultrasonic measurements.

[0006] The difficulty in inspecting such parts manufactured by a DED process concerns the detection of linear defects, generated due to a lack of fusion, which can have various shapes and orientations.

[0007] Standard inspections using radiography and ultrasonic measurements cannot detect such defects, or only very partially.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a solution that can detect any type of defect in a part, for example rounded defects such as porosities or inclusions of material denser than the deposited material ("solid inclusion" in English) but also linear defects such as lack of fusion, and this regardless of the orientation of these defects in the part.

[0009] Furthermore, we know: by document DE 10 2012 025 535 A1, a method for ultrasonic analysis of parts providing for carrying out ultrasonic measurements on an area of ​​interest of the part; and by document FR 3 085 095 A1, an ultrasound imaging method for imaging an object, in particular in the context of non-destructive testing of objects, in order to detect possible defects. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention aims to meet the aforementioned need. To do this, it relates to a method for ultrasonic detection of internal defects in a part, in particular for an aircraft.

[0011] According to the invention, said method comprises at least the following steps: a measuring step, implemented by an ultrasonic measuring device, consisting of carrying out measurements on a so-called area of ​​interest of the part, said area of ​​interest being divided according to a mesh comprising elementary cells, the ultrasonic measuring device comprising a plurality of ultrasonic emitters spaced from each other and a plurality of ultrasonic receivers spaced from each other, the measuring step consisting of successively carrying out, cell after cell, for each of the cells of the mesh, a plurality of series of operations, said series of operations being implemented successively, ultrasonic emitter after ultrasonic emitter, from each of the ultrasonic emitters of the ultrasonic measuring device, each of the series of operations comprising the following operations: the generation by the ultrasonic emitter in question of an ultrasonic signal which is sent into the part and the measurement,by each of the ultrasonic receivers of the ultrasonic measuring device, of the amplitude of the corresponding ultrasonic signal, returned by the cell considered in the part; a calculation step, implemented by a calculation element, consisting of calculating, for each of the cells of the mesh, the sum of the amplitudes of all the measurements carried out in the measurement step for this cell so as to obtain a so-called global amplitude for said cell; and a processing step, implemented by a processing element, consisting at least of deducing from the global amplitudes calculated for all the cells of the mesh, where appropriate, the presence of one or more defects.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, the area of ​​interest corresponds to a spatial area of ​​the part in which an ultrasonic inspection is carried out.

[0013] Thus, by meshing the area of ​​interest and performing measurements in all the cells of this mesh, data are obtained for the entire surface of the area of ​​interest considered, i.e. the area of ​​the part that we wish to inspect. In addition, by a spaced arrangement of the emitters and receivers and by processing data obtained from all the emitters and receivers arranged at different positions on the ultrasonic measuring device, measurements are obtained for each cell at different and varied emission and reception angles, which makes it possible to obtain an ultrasonic image of each cell from different views. This makes it possible to detect defects in the part, which have different orientations and shapes.

[0014] The ultrasonic detection method therefore makes it possible to detect all defects existing in the area of ​​interest of the part, regardless of the spatial orientation of this or these defects. The said method is particularly well suited to detecting linear defects generated during the implementation of a DED-type manufacturing method. However, this method can also be used to detect defects in other types of parts, for example welds.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the processing step also consists of determining, where appropriate, as a function of the overall amplitudes calculated for all the cells of the mesh, the outline of a defect in the plane of the area of ​​interest.

[0016] Furthermore, advantageously, the processing step also consists of calculating, where appropriate, the length of a defect from the length between the two cells furthest apart from each other among all the cells for which the defect was detected.

[0017] Furthermore, advantageously, the mesh comprises identical square-shaped cells, the sides of which have a length greater than one tenth of a so-called acceptance criterion.

[0018] Furthermore, advantageously, the measuring step consists of generating an ultrasonic signal having a frequency between 7.5 MHz and 13 MHz.

[0019] The present invention also relates to an ultrasonic detection system for internal defects of a part, in particular for an aircraft.

[0020] According to the invention, said system comprises at least: an ultrasonic measuring device comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters spaced apart from each other and a plurality of ultrasonic receivers spaced apart from each other, the ultrasonic measuring device being configured to carry out measurements on a so-called area of ​​interest of the part, said area of ​​interest being divided according to a mesh comprising elementary cells, the ultrasonic measuring device being configured to successively carry out cell after cell for each of the cells of the mesh a plurality of series of operations, said series of operations being implemented successively ultrasonic transmitter after ultrasonic transmitter from each of the ultrasonic transmitters of the ultrasonic measuring device, each of the series of operations comprising the following operations: the generation by the ultrasonic transmitter in question of an ultrasonic signal which is sent into the part and the measurement,by each of the ultrasonic receivers of the ultrasonic measuring device, of the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal returned by the cell considered in the part; a calculation element configured to calculate, for each of the cells of the mesh, the sum of the amplitudes of all the measurements carried out for this cell so as to obtain a so-called global amplitude for said cell; and a processing element configured at least to deduce from the global amplitudes calculated for all the cells of the mesh, where appropriate, the presence of one or more defects.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic measuring device comprises a plurality of ultrasonic elements, each of said ultrasonic elements comprising an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, and said ultrasonic elements are arranged side by side along a linear array.

[0022] Furthermore, advantageously, the ultrasonic measuring device comprises at least 64 ultrasonic transmitters and at least 64 ultrasonic receivers.

[0023] According to the invention, the ultrasonic measuring device comprises a delay line.

[0024] Furthermore, advantageously, the system comprises a unit for presenting the results of the treatments implemented by the processing element.

[0025] The system as described above can be used in different applications, in particular to carry out conformity checks of parts, in particular parts for an aircraft, during their manufacture, or later during a maintenance or control operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The attached figures will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements. Figure 1is the block diagram of a particular embodiment of an ultrasonic detection system. The Figure 2 is the block diagram of an ultrasonic measuring device of the system of the Figure 1 . There Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of a part intended to be analyzed using the ultrasonic detection device. The Figure 4 schematically illustrates an example of meshing an area of ​​interest. The Figure 5 schematically shows the main steps of an ultrasonic detection process. The Figure 6 schematically shows examples of measurements of the variation in the amplitude of the returned ultrasonic signal, for a given cell of the mesh of the area of ​​interest. The Figure 7 represents an image illustrating the result of the treatments carried out on an area of ​​interest, this image showing the area of ​​interest with a defect. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] System 1 shown schematically on the Figure 1and allowing the invention to be illustrated is a device for analyzing the conformity of a material 3 integrated into a part 2 ( Figure 3 ), especially for an aircraft.

[0028] This system 1 is intended to detect defects in the material 3 of the part 2.

[0029] In the context of the present invention, the term "defects" internal to a part means an at least partial absence of material in the material forming the part. These may in particular be rounded defects such as, for example, porosities or linear defects such as, for example, lack of fusion.

[0030] System 1 is particularly suitable for analyzing a part 2 whose material 3 has been deposited using a standard DED (Direct Energy Deposition) type manufacturing method.

[0031] To do this, system 1 comprises, as shown in the Figure 1 , an ultrasonic measuring device 4.

[0032] This ultrasonic measuring device 4 comprises, as shown in the Figure 2 , a plurality of N ultrasonic elements U1, U2, ..., UN, N being an integer specified below. The N ultrasonic elements U1, U2, ..., UN are mounted on a linear bar 5. They are arranged side by side along the linear bar 5, being spaced from each other. Preferably, for the N ultrasonic elements U1, U2, ..., UN, two adjacent ultrasonic elements are spaced from each other by the same distance (or not) d0.

[0033] Each of the N ultrasonic elements U1 to UN comprises an ultrasonic transmitter T1 to TN capable of generating, in the usual manner, an ultrasonic signal and an ultrasonic receiver R1 to RN capable of receiving (and detecting), in the usual manner, an ultrasonic signal.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the integer N is equal to 64 or 128, and preferably equal to 64. In this case, the ultrasonic measuring device 4 therefore comprises 64 ultrasonic transmitters and 64 ultrasonic receivers.

[0035] Other numbers N are of course possible within the framework of the present invention. Similarly, it is possible to have a number N1 of ultrasonic transmitters and a number N2 of ultrasonic receivers, N2 being an integer different from the integer N1.

[0036] By way of illustration (non-limiting), the ultrasonic measuring device 4 may comprise 64 ultrasonic elements which are spaced from each other by a pitch d0 of between 0.3 and 0.6 mm along the linear bar 5.

[0037] Each of the ultrasonic transmitters T1 to TN is therefore capable of emitting an ultrasonic signal. In the context of the present invention, the longitudinal waves of the ultrasonic signal are used for transmission and reception.

[0038] As described in more detail below, each ultrasonic transmitter T1 to TN of the ultrasonic measuring device 4 is configured to generate an ultrasonic signal Si and to emit the ultrasonic signal Si (thus generated) into the room 2, as illustrated in Figure 3 for a signal S1 generated by the ultrasonic transmitter T1. Preferably, the ultrasonic signal Si has a frequency between 7.5 MHz and 10 MHz.

[0039] Furthermore, each ultrasonic receiver R1 to RN of the ultrasonic measuring device 4 is configured to measure the amplitude of a received ultrasonic signal Sij, namely as specified below the amplitude of the part of the ultrasonic signal Si (emitted by an ultrasonic transmitter T1 to TN), which is returned (after reflection) by the part 2, as specified below.

[0040] It is known that the propagation of an ultrasonic signal in a part (such as part 2) is characterized, where appropriate, by characteristic (reflection) peaks, which correspond to acoustic impedance breaks in the part, at the interfaces of different materials. In the case where the material 3 is uniform in the part 2, acoustic impedance breaks are generated, where appropriate, at the interface between, on the one hand, the material 3 and, on the other hand, an absence of material, i.e. a defect such as those specified above. Consequently, an ultrasonic signal emitted in the material (by an ultrasonic transmitter) is returned by a defect, if it encounters such a defect during its propagation in the material. The ultrasonic signal thus returned (and detected by an ultrasonic receiver) has a significant amplitude characteristic of the presence of such a defect.

[0041] The ultrasonic measuring device 4 is configured to carry out measurements on a so-called area of ​​interest ZI of the part 2 shown schematically in the Figure 3 The area of ​​interest ZI corresponds to a cross-section of the part 2. As an illustration (non-limiting), the area of ​​interest ZI has a width L of the order of 25 mm and a depth H of the order of 50 mm.

[0042] In the context of the present invention, the area of ​​interest ZI is divided according to a mesh M comprising elementary cells C, as shown in the Figure 4 The ultrasonic measuring device 4 is configured to successively carry out, cell after cell, for each of the cells C of the mesh M, a plurality of series of operations.

[0043] The sequences of operations are implemented successively, ultrasonic transmitter after ultrasonic transmitter, from each of the ultrasonic transmitters T1 to TN of the ultrasonic measuring device 4. Each of the sequences of operations comprises, for a given ultrasonic transmitter, the following operations: the generation by the ultrasonic transmitter of an ultrasonic signal which is sent into the room 2; and the measurement, by each of the ultrasonic receivers R1 to RN of the ultrasonic measuring device 4 of the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal returned by the cell considered in the room 2.

[0044] These operations are described in more detail below with reference to an ultrasonic detection method P ( Figure 5 ).

[0045] Said system 1 also comprises, as shown in the Figure 1, a processing unit 6 carrying out the processing of the measurements carried out by the ultrasonic measuring device 4. This processing unit 6 comprises: a calculation element 7 configured to calculate, for each of the cells C of the mesh M, the sum of the amplitudes of all the measurements carried out for the cell in question and received via a link 8 of the ultrasonic measuring device 4 so as to obtain a so-called global amplitude for said cell; and a processing element 9 configured at least to deduce from the global amplitudes calculated for all the cells C of the mesh M, and received via a link 10 of the calculation element 7, where appropriate, the presence of one or more defects. The processing element 9 can implement other processing operations specified below.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the invention, the ultrasonic measuring device 4 comprises a delay line 15 as shown in the Figure 3. This delay line 15 allows an ultrasonic signal emitted by an ultrasonic transmitter of the ultrasonic measuring device 4 to arrive at a non-zero angle relative to the normal, in the part 2 at the upstream end (in the direction of propagation of the ultrasonic signal). This delay line 15 allows the ultrasonic measuring device 4 to be able to carry out an inspection of the part 2 also at this upstream end.

[0047] Furthermore, the system 1 comprises a unit 11 for presenting the results of the processing implemented by the processing element 9 of the processing unit 6. This unit 11 is intended to provide an operator or a system with the result (received by a link 12) of the processing implemented by the processing element 9. To do this, the unit 11 may, in particular, comprise: a usual means for displaying the result (e.g. fault location); a usual means for printing the result; and a usual means for transmitting the result, e.g. via a wired or wireless link.

[0048] The system 1, as described above, is capable of implementing a method P for analyzing the conformity of the material 3 of a part 2, for example such as that shown in the Figure 3 . Said process P represented schematically on the Figure 5 is described below, with particular reference to figures 1, 3 , 4, 6 And 7 .

[0049] The method P comprises, first of all, a measurement step E1 ( Figure 5 ), implemented by the ultrasonic measuring device 4 ( Figure 1 ).

[0050] This measurement step E1 consists of carrying out measurements on the area of ​​interest ZI of part 2 ( Figure 3 ), in order to analyze it.

[0051] The area of ​​interest ZI is therefore divided according to a mesh M comprising elementary cells C, as shown in the Figure 4 The size of the cells may depend on the size of the area of ​​interest ZI and the resolution of the ultrasonic elements U1 to UN. Preferably, the cells C of the mesh M are square; they can also be rectangular.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the mesh M comprises identical square-shaped cells C, the sides of which have a length greater than one tenth of a so-called acceptance criterion. Acceptance criterion is understood to mean the maximum size or length that is accepted for a defect in the part, for example 1 mm. This acceptance criterion depends, in particular, on the part considered and the intended application.

[0053] The measurement step E1 consists of successively carrying out, cell C after cell C, for each of the cells C of the mesh M, a plurality of N series of operations SO.

[0054] For any one of the cells C, the N sequences of operations SO are implemented successively, ultrasonic transmitter after ultrasonic transmitter, from each of the N ultrasonic transmitters T1 to TN of the ultrasonic measuring device 4.

[0055] Each of the N sequences of operations SO includes the following operations: an emission operation corresponding to the generation by an ultrasonic transmitter Ti (i ranging from 1 to N) of an ultrasonic signal Si which is sent into the room 2, as shown as an example in the Figure 3for an ultrasonic signal S1 sent into the room 2 by the ultrasonic transmitter T1; and N reception operations corresponding to the measurement, by each of the N ultrasonic receivers T1 to TN of the ultrasonic measuring device 4, of the amplitude of an ultrasonic signal Sij corresponding to the part of the ultrasonic signal Si (emitted by an ultrasonic transmitter T1 to TN) which is returned (after reflection) by the cell considered in the room. By way of illustration, the following figure is shown: Figure 3 signals S11, S12, S13 and S1N which correspond to the reflection by a cell Ck of the ultrasonic signal S1 (emitted by the ultrasonic transmitter T1). These signals S11, S12, S13 and S1N are measured, respectively, by the ultrasonic receivers R1, R2, R3 and RN.

[0056] We therefore obtain, for a given cell C (such as cell Ck of the Figure 3for example), N measurements for each of the N ultrasonic transmitters (such as the aforementioned N measurements relating to the ultrasonic transmitter T1). We therefore obtain NxN measurements for each cell C. Each of these NxN measurements includes the amplitude of the sound signal measured by the corresponding ultrasonic receiver.

[0057] As an illustration, the following figure is shown: Figure 6 , for a given cell C of the mesh M, some of the amplitudes Aij of the NxN MEij measurements carried out for this cell, namely those for which i and j take the values ​​1, 2, 3 and N. Each of the MEij measurements therefore includes an “A-Scan” type measurement.

[0058] The method P also comprises a calculation step E2, implemented by the calculation element 7. This calculation step E2 consists of calculating, for each of the cells C of the mesh M, the sum of the amplitudes Aij of all the measurements MEij carried out in the measurement step E1 for this cell.

[0059] By this summation, the calculation step E2 makes it possible to obtain a so-called global amplitude for each of the cells C of the mesh M.

[0060] The method P also comprises a processing step E3, implemented by the processing element 9, after the calculation step E2.

[0061] This processing step E3 consists of deducing from the global amplitudes calculated for all the cells of the mesh, where applicable, the presence of one or more defects. A defect is considered to be detected in a cell when the global amplitude (i.e. the sum of the measured amplitudes) of this cell exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the processing step E3 consists of determining, in the event of detection of a defect, as a function of the overall amplitudes of the cells detecting a defect, the contour 14 of the defect 13 in the plane of the area of ​​interest, as shown in the Figure 7 .

[0063] There Figure 7 shows an image I illustrating the result of the treatments carried out on an area of ​​interest ZI. This image I (of the analyzed area of ​​interest) includes a single defect 13.

[0064] In addition, in processing step E3, processing element 9 can also calculate the length D of an identified defect. To do this, as shown in the Figure 7 , the processing element 9 calculates the length D of the defect 13 from the length between the two cells C1 and C2 that are furthest from each other, among all the cells on which the defect 13 has been detected. For this purpose, the processing element 9 can determine a distance ΔX (along the lines of the mesh) as well as a distance ΔY (along the columns of the mesh) between the cells C1 and C2, then calculate the distance L from these two distances ΔX and ΔY.

[0065] The method P further comprises a step E4, implemented by the unit 11, consisting of presenting and / or transmitting to an operator or to a system, part or all of the results (identification of the defect 13, presentation of the contour 14 of the defect 13, value of the length D of the defect 13, etc.) obtained in the processing step E3. The presentation can be carried out by various usual means in the form of display or printing.

[0066] In a particular embodiment, a map of the analyzed structure can be produced by highlighting the defects using one or more particular colors. This map can resemble image I of the Figure 7, on which the background 16 (free of defects) of the analyzed area of ​​interest and the defect 13 are represented with different colors. This particular embodiment allows an operator to quickly identify and locate any defects visually.

[0067] System 1 implementing the method P as described above, thus allows effective detection of all defects existing in an area of ​​interest of a part, regardless of the spatial orientation of this or these defects.

[0068] Indeed, thanks to the mesh M of the area of ​​interest ZI and to the performance of measurements in all the cells C of this mesh M, the system 1 obtains data for the entire surface of the area of ​​interest ZI considered, that is to say of the area of ​​the part 2 that one wishes to inspect. In addition, thanks to a spaced arrangement of the ultrasonic elements U1 to UN along the linear bar 5 and to the processing of data obtained from all the ultrasonic transmitters and all the ultrasonic receivers therefore arranged at different positions on the linear bar 5 of the ultrasonic measuring device 4, the system 1 obtains, for each cell C, measurements carried out according to different and varied emission and reception angles. This makes it possible to obtain an ultrasonic image of each cell C under different views.System 1 is thus able to detect defects (in part 2), which have different orientations, and more generally any possible orientation.

[0069] System 1 (ultrasonic detection) therefore makes it possible to detect all defects existing in the area of ​​interest ZI of part 2, regardless of the spatial orientation and shape of this defect or defects. Said system 1 is particularly well suited to detecting linear defects generated during the implementation of a DED-type manufacturing method. However, this method can also be used to detect defects in other types of parts, for example welds.

[0070] System 1, as described above, can be used in different applications.

[0071] In particular, in a first possible application, the system 1 is used to carry out conformity checks during the manufacture of a part, for example an aircraft, and in particular during the manufacture of a part by a DED type manufacturing method. In this application, the system 1 makes it possible to carry out a precise, rapid and reliable check of the material as deposited from the part so as to be able to detect the presence of defects.

[0072] In a second possible application, the measurements may be taken during an assembly operation, or during a subsequent check with the part already assembled, for example during a maintenance operation. In such an application, the system 1 may in particular be used to take measurements at particular locations on the part, for example at one or more locations where it is estimated that a defect may exist.

Claims

1. A method for an ultrasonic detection of internal defects of a component, in particular for an aircraft, said method comprising at least the following steps: - a measuring step (E1), implemented by an ultrasonic measuring device (4), consisting of carrying out measurements on a so-called zone of interest (ZI) of the component (2), said zone of interest (ZI) being divided according to a gridding (M) comprising elementary cells (C), the gridding (M) comprising identical square-shaped cells (C), the ultrasonic measuring device (4) comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters (T1 to TN) spaced from each other and a plurality of ultrasonic receivers (R1 to RN) spaced from each other, the ultrasonic measuring device (4) comprising a delay line (15), the measuring step (E1) consisting of successively carrying out, cell (C) after cell (C), for each of the cells (C) of the gridding (M), a plurality of successions of operations, said successions of operations being implemented successively, ultrasonic transmitter (T1 to TN) after ultrasonic transmitter (T1 to TN), from each of the ultrasonic transmitters (T1 to TN) of the ultrasonic measuring device (4), each of the successions of operations comprising the following operations: the generation by the ultrasonic transmitter in question of an ultrasonic signal which is sent into the component (2) and the measurement, by each of the ultrasonic receivers (R1 to RN) of the ultrasonic measuring device (4), of the amplitude of the corresponding ultrasonic signal, reflected by the cell (C) in question of the component (2); - a computing step (E2), implemented by a computing unit (7), consisting of computing, for each of the cells (C) of the gridding (M), the sum of the amplitudes of all of the measurements carried out in the measuring step (E1), for that cell (C), in order to obtain a so-called overall amplitude for said cell (C); and - a processing step (E3), implemented by a processing part (9), consisting of at least deducing from the overall amplitudes computed for all of the cells (C) of the gridding (M), as the case may be, the presence of one or more defects (13).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the processing step (E3) also consists of determining, if appropriate, the contour (14) of a defect (13) in the plane of the zone of interest (ZI) as a function of the overall amplitudes computed for all of the cells (C) of the gridding (M).

3. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the processing step (E3) also consists of computing, if appropriate, the length of a defect (13) from the length (D) between the two cells (C1, C2) most distant from each other among all of the cells for which the defect (13) has been detected.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring step (E1) consists of generating an ultrasonic signal having a frequency of between 7.5 MHz and 13 MHz.

5. A system for an ultrasonic detection of internal defects of a component, in particular for an aircraft, said system (1) comprising at least: - an ultrasonic measuring device (4) comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters (T1 to TN) spaced from each other and a plurality of ultrasonic receivers (R1 to RN) spaced from each other, the ultrasonic measuring device (4) being configured to carry out measurements on a so-called zone of interest (ZI) of the component (2), said zone of interest (ZI) being divided according to a gridding (M) comprising elementary cells (C), the gridding (M) comprising identical square-shaped cells (C), the ultrasonic measuring device (4) being configured for successively carrying out, cell (C) after cell (C) for each of the cells (C) of the gridding (M), a plurality of successions of operations, said successions of operations being implemented successively, ultrasonic transmitter (T1 to TN) after ultrasonic transmitter (T1 to TN), from each of the ultrasonic transmitters (T1 to TN) of the ultrasonic measuring device (4), each of the successions of operations comprising the following operations: the generation by the ultrasonic transmitter in question of an ultrasonic signal which is sent into the component and the measurement, by each of the ultrasonic receivers (R1 to RN) of the ultrasonic measuring device(4), of the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal reflected by the cell in question of the component (2), the ultrasonic measuring device (4) comprising a delay line (15); - a computing unit (7) configured for computing, for each of the cells (C) of the gridding (M), the sum of the amplitudes of all of the measurements carried out for that cell (C) in order to obtain a so-called overall amplitude for said cell (C); and - a processing part (9) configured at least for deducing, from the computed overall amplitudes computed for all of the cells (C) of the gridding (M), as the case may be, the presence of one or more defects (13).

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the ultrasonic measuring device (4) comprises a plurality of ultrasonic units (U1 to UN), each of said ultrasonic units (U1 to UN) comprising an ultrasonic transmitter (T1 to TN) and an ultrasonic receiver (R1 to RN), and wherein said ultrasonic units (U1 to UN) are arranged side by side along a linear bar (5).

7. The system as claimed in one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the ultrasonic measuring device (4) comprises at least 64 ultrasonic transmitters and at least 64 ultrasonic receivers.

8. The system a claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a unit (11) for the presentation of the results of the processings implemented by the processing part (9).