Ultrasonic Weld Inspection Using Circularness Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing welding inspection technologies face challenges in accurately determining the joint quality and defects in welds, often resulting in incorrect assessments due to factors like detector tilt and material properties.

Innovation Solution

A processing system that includes a detector for transmitting ultrasonic waves and detecting reflected waves, a processing device for analyzing the data, and a display device for presenting the results. The system performs two determinations: first, it assesses whether points are joined based on the reflected wave data, and second, it evaluates the appropriateness of the first determination by calculating the circularness of the weld region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional ultrasonic inspection methods are used with a single determination criterion, then the inspection process is simple, but the accuracy of weld quality assessment is reduced due to detector tilt and material variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of weld quality assessmentVSAvoidcomplexity of determination process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection determination is segmented into two independent stages: first determination based on reflected wave intensity ratios, and second determination based on circularness calculation. This segmentation allows each stage to focus on specific aspects of weld quality, improving overall accuracy while maintaining manageable complexity through modular processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using the first determination result as input for the second determination. The circularness calculation in the second determination provides feedback on the geometric validity of the detected weld region, which can confirm or correct the initial assessment, thereby improving measurement precision through iterative validation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If only reflected wave intensity is used for determination, then the inspection is quick, but errors occur due to detector tilt and material property variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness against detector tilt and material variationsVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating the circularness of the weld region before making the final quality determination. This preliminary geometric validation prepares the data structure needed for robust determination, allowing the system to quickly assess whether the detected region is valid without being affected by detector tilt or material variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by introducing circularness as an additional determination criterion alongside reflected wave intensity. This parameter change transforms the determination from a single-intensity-based assessment to a multi-parameter assessment that includes geometric properties, making it more robust against detector tilt and material variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system significantly improves the accuracy of weld inspection by reducing errors associated with detector tilt and material variations, enabling more reliable determination of joint quality and defect detection.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the detector toward the weld portion, and data related to the welding object is derived based on the reflected waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave transmission and reflection: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP4050330B1Processing system, processing method, program, and storage medium for inspection of welded objects
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP4050330B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4050330B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a processing system (100), a processing method, a program, and a storage medium in which the accuracy of data related to a welding object can be improved. [Means for Solving Problem] A processing system (100) according to an embodiment includes a processing device (110). The processing device (110) receives a detection result of a reflected wave (RW) from a detector (130) that includes multiple detection elements (132) arranged in a first direction and a second direction crossing each other, and performs a probe that includes transmitting an ultrasonic wave (US) toward a welding object and detecting the reflected wave (RW). The processing device (110) performs a first determination of determining a joint and a non-joint at multiple points along the first and second directions of the welding object based on the detection result. The processing device (110) performs a second determination of determining an appropriateness of a result of the first determination by using a circularness of a first region (R1) based on the points determined to be joints.