Acoustic Scan Drift Tracking for Weld Flaw Position Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic inspection techniques for weld structures face challenges in accurately tracking the lateral position of the probe assembly, leading to potential misidentification of flaws due to probe drift, as geometric echoes can be mistakenly identified as flaws or vice versa.
Innovation Solution
A machine-implemented technique for index offset tracking is developed to monitor and compensate for the lateral displacement of the probe assembly relative to the weld, using B-scan echo data to update the presentation and provide accurate spatial inspection coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional ultrasonic inspection is performed without drift tracking, then the inspection process is simpler and faster, but the lateral position accuracy deteriorates leading to misidentification of flaws
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the lateral position of the probe assembly using drift tracking algorithms that process B-scan echo data. The system detects geometric echoes, calculates drift based on their expected positions, and uses this feedback to compensate for lateral position changes, thereby maintaining measurement precision without requiring complex external positioning hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system performs self-positioning by utilizing the echo data it already collects during normal ultrasonic inspection. The drift tracking functionality is embedded within the existing inspection workflow, allowing the system to automatically monitor and compensate for its own lateral position changes without requiring separate positioning systems or additional external devices
2Reliability
If drift tracking is implemented to maintain lateral position, then flaw identification accuracy is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating the expected positions of geometric echoes based on the known weld geometry and probe positioning. This allows the drift tracking algorithm to quickly compare actual echo positions with expected positions and determine drift without requiring complex real-time analysis, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by focusing the drift tracking analysis only on specific geometric echoes that are most reliable for position determination, rather than analyzing all echo data. This selective approach reduces computational load and processing time while still providing sufficient accuracy for flaw detection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The technique ensures precise ultrasonic inspection by differentiating between geometric echoes and potential flaws, enhancing the accuracy of flaw detection in weld structures by maintaining consistent lateral positioning of the probe assembly.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining first B-scan echo data from a specified first range of depths at a specified scan angle
Implementation Method 2
acoustic (e.g., ultrasonic) inspection can be used to obtain data for imaging of features on or within a test specimen
Implementation Method 3
coherent excitation of ultrasound transducers to provide a desired beam angle and focal location. For example, coherent excitation can include applying specified delay values (or phase shift) to pulses for transmission by individual array elements
Implementation Method 4
a delay-and-sum beamforming technique can be used such as including coherently exciting respective transducer elements or apertures for beamforming in transmission, or coherently summing time-domain representations of received acoustic signals from respective transducer elements or apertures for beamforming in reception
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
In acoustic inspection, if a probe assembly fails to maintain a controlled lateral position relative to a structure such as a weld being inspected, as the probe assembly is translated along a scan axis, a nearby flaw could be missed or mistaken for an earlier-observed feature. Apparatus and techniques described herein can assist in tracking the lateral displacement of a probe assembly relative to a region of interest such as an edge or centerline of a weld. Such a technique can, for example, be used to gate the received ultrasonic data or to update a presentation to a user, such as for updating an overlay (e.g., a weld template) and ruler position in an S-scan or other image representation.