SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCUSING GUIDED WAVES BEYOND CURVES IN TEST STRUCTURES

摘要

A non-destructive testing system includes directing guided wave energy to regions of interest in waveguides. Knowing the propagation paths taken by guided wave energy in complex waveguides can be used to intentionally insonify regions of interest. Additionally, knowledge of the propagation direction and location of an energy mode in a waveguide allows the calculation of the path previously taken by the energy mode. This information can be used for signal processing of guided wave inspection systems. The test system can have various sensor configurations including: a single transducer configured to direct or receive guided wave energy along a particular direction, a one-dimensional array or a two dimensional array of transducers. The transducers can operate independently to provide mutual phasing and amplitude adjusting to steer guided wave energy in a waveguide or determine the directionality of guided wave energy received by the sensors.

主权项

1. A method for guided wave non-destructive testing comprising:
providing a waveguide structure to be non-destructively tested, the waveguide structure including a bend section such that the waveguide structure's axis or plane of symmetry changes direction, a first section on a first side of the bend section and a second section on a second side of the bend section that is opposite the first side; providing at least one ultrasonic guided wave transducer coupled to the first portion of the waveguide structure; providing a computer running an algorithm which includes a mathematical representation of the waveguide structure and which predicts the effect of the at least one transducer on a portion of interest of the waveguide structure; calculating by the computer using the algorithm, guided wave excitation parameters for insonification of the second section of the waveguide structure with at least one ultrasonic signal from the at least one ultrasonic guided wave transducer on the first section of the waveguide structure; transmitting the at least one ultrasonic signal according to the calculated guided wave excitation parameters from the at least one ultrasonic guided wave transducer through the first section and the bend section to the second section of the waveguide structure; and insonifying the second section of the waveguide structure with at least one ultrasonic signal according to the calculated guided wave excitation parameters transmitted by the at least one ultrasonic guided wave transducer.