Ultrasonic Inspection of Solids via Contact Variation Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic non-destructive inspection methods for solids face challenges in accurately measuring defects due to the complexity of shear and compression wave propagation, often requiring water immersion or permanent probe attachment, which complicates handling and can introduce measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use a plurality of transducers to induce and receive ultrasonic signals, compensating for contact surface variations by determining a frequency varying filter equivalent, allowing for the calculation of residual signals indicative of defects without prior knowledge of wave propagation, suitable for solids using frequencies that create Lamb waves for effective inspection of plate-like structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If water immersion or permanent probe attachment is used for ultrasonic inspection of solids, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a coupling medium as an intermediary between the transducer and the solid material being inspected. This coupling medium enables effective ultrasonic wave transmission without requiring water immersion or permanent probe attachment, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while simplifying the inspection process and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the inspection system by using a coupling medium with specific acoustic impedance properties that match both the transducer and the solid material. This parameter matching enables efficient ultrasonic energy transfer without complex immersion setups or permanent attachments.
2Measurement precision
If water immersion or permanent probe attachment is used for ultrasonic inspection of solids, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling medium serves as a temporary intermediary that is easily applied and removed, enabling accurate measurements without the operational complexity of water immersion tanks or permanent probe installations. The medium can be simply applied to the surface, the transducer placed on top, and then easily removed after inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling medium functions as a disposable, short-lived element that is applied for the duration of the measurement and then discarded or removed. This eliminates the need for permanent installations or complex reusable immersion systems, greatly simplifying operation.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If conventional ultrasonic inspection methods are used for solids, then defect detection is achieved, but contact surface variations introduce measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual contact surface conditions are measured and used to adjust the reference signal. By comparing the measured signal with a dynamically updated reference that accounts for contact variations, the system compensates for surface irregularities and maintains measurement accuracy despite varying contact conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurements to characterize the contact surface conditions before conducting the actual defect detection. This preliminary action establishes a baseline reference that accounts for contact variations, enabling more accurate subsequent measurements without requiring perfect contact uniformity.
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
Enables accurate detection of defects in solids by compensating for contact surface variations, providing a reliable residual signal without the need for water immersion or permanent probe attachment, suitable for inspecting large or complex structures.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting an ultrasonic signal into the material and measuring a resulting ultrasonic signal that has travelled through the material
Implementation Method 2
measuring a resulting ultrasonic signal that has travelled through the material at a measuring point, which resulting ultrasonic signal for example has been reflected inside the material before arriving at the measuring point
Implementation Method 3
Solid materials therefore transfer energy in the form of shear waves as well as compression waves
Implementation Method 4
Solid materials therefore transfer energy in the form of shear waves as well as compression waves
Implementation Method 5
compensating for contact surface variations by determining a frequency varying filter equivalent
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method, a computer program and a system for ultrasonic inspecting of objects is provided. The method comprises positioning (103) a measuring device (11) comprising a plurality of transducers (12)on the inspected object(20) and performing a number of test signal acquisitions (103). Each acquisition includes using one transducer to induce an ultrasonic signal into the test object, and using at least one other transducer to receive an ultrasonic test signal. The inspecting further comprises determining (105, 205) the influence of contact surface variations between each test signal and a reference signal; compensating (106, 206) the full test signal for the contact surface variations; and determining (109) a residual signal. The system comprises a computing device (30), and a measuring system (13) communicatively connected to the computing device (30). The measuring system (13) includes an ultrasound unit (19) and a measuring device (11) provided with a plurality of transducers (12).The computing device (30) comprises a calibrator (303) to determine(105, 205) the influence of contact surface variations, and compensate(106, 206) the test signal. The computing device (30) comprises a residual calculator (304) to determine(109) the residual signal.