SYSTEM FOR INSPECTING RAIL WITH PHASED ARRAY ULTRASONICS

摘要

A system for inspecting railroad rail (10) using phased array ultrasonic technology includes both high-speed and high-resolution inspection modes that obviate the need for an operator to dismount the truck (12) to perform detail inspection. In high-speed inspection mode, the phased array probes (30-36) operate at fixed angles with respect to the rail (10) to identify potential rail defects as the vehicle (12) moves along the rail (10). The vehicle (12) can then return to the location of a potential rail defect and switch to a high-resolution inspection mode in which the phased array probes (30-36) sweep over a range of beam angles at the location of a potential rail defect.