초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of complex structures employs a portable laser based ultrasonic transducer 600 output to rapidly detect and size flaws in such structures, including the radii of composites, laminates, and complex skin/substructure assemblies, such as airplane wi

A method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of complex structures employs a portable laser based ultrasonic transducer 600 output to rapidly detect and size flaws in such structures, including the radii of composites, laminates, and complex skin/substructure assemblies, such as airplane wings. A fiber optic delivery system 610A is employed with the laser based ultrasonic transducer 600 and a thermoelastic medium to rapidly and accurately access the radii of complex structures in the field without the need for liquid or gel couplants, with the thermoelastic expansion of the test piece 680 producing mechanical stresses that initiate detectable sound waves regardless of the angle of the laser based ultrasonic transducer 600 output with respect to the test piece 680. A MAUS III scanning device may be employed to detect these sound waves and provide accurate information as to the detected flaws.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus comprising: at least one laser based ultrasonic transmitting, transducer means, and movable delivery means for delivering at least one incident, laser based ultrasonic transducer output to a test object so as to generate ultrasonic energy output for through transmission of said ultrason

An apparatus comprising: at least one laser based ultrasonic transmitting, transducer means, and movable delivery means for delivering at least one incident, laser based ultrasonic transducer output to a test object so as to generate ultrasonic energy output for through transmission of said ultrasonic energy output in the test object, said laser based ultrasonic transmitting transducer means being connected to said movable delivery means for providing said incident laser based ultrasonic transducer output; at least one movable, ultrasonic, receiving, transducer means mounted on the test object opposite said incident, laser based ultrasonic transducer output for receiving the through transmission of ultrasonic energy output from said incident, laser based ultrasonic transducer output in said test article, said receiving transducer means further comprising means for oscillating said receiving transducer means opposite said movable laser based ultrasonic transducer output, said receiving transducer means further producing an output representing the ultrasonic transmission through the test object from the laser based ultrasonic transducer output; harmonic moving means for automatically and harmonically moving the incident laser based ultrasonic transducer output along one side of the test object, correlative to the movement of the receiving transducer means; and means for detecting and displaying the position coordinates of any flaw in the test object which is identified as a result of a variation in the ultrasonic energy output transmitted through the test object.