Floating ultrasonic transducer inspection system and method for nondestructive evaluation

摘要

A method for inspecting a structural sample using ultrasonic energy includes positioning an ultrasonic transducer adjacent to a surface of the sample, and then transmitting ultrasonic energy into the sample. Force pulses are applied to the transducer concurrently with transmission of the ultrasonic energy. A host machine processes ultrasonic return pulses from an ultrasonic pulser/receiver to quantify attenuation of the ultrasonic energy within the sample. The host machine detects a defect in the sample using the quantified level of attenuation. The method may include positioning a dry couplant between an ultrasonic transducer and the surface. A system includes an actuator, an ultrasonic transducer, a dry couplant between the transducer the sample, a scanning device that moves the actuator and transducer, and a measurement system having a pulsed actuator power supply, an ultrasonic pulser/receiver, and a host machine that executes the above method.

主权项

1. A method for inspecting a structural sample using ultrasonic energy, the method comprising:
positioning an ultrasonic transducer adjacent to a surface of the sample; transmitting ultrasonic energy into the sample using an ultrasonic transducer; applying force pulses to the transducer, concurrently with the transmission of the ultrasonic energy and at a frequency that is lower than a frequency of the ultrasonic energy, to thereby vertically displace the transducer and cause the transducer to exert a periodic force on the surface; moving the transducer with respect to the surface and in synchronization between the transmission of pulses with the periodic force and movement of the transducer; processing an ultrasonic return pulse from an ultrasonic pulser/receiver using a host machine to thereby quantify a level of attenuation of the ultrasonic input pulses within the sample; and using the host machine to detect a defect in the sample using the quantified level of attenuation; wherein an actuator and the transducer are enclosed within a housing having a perforated skirt; and applying a vacuum to the surface through pores in the perforated skirt while moving the transducer with respect to the surface.