Micro-resolution ultrasonic nondestructive imaging method
AssigneeKBR Wyle Services, LLC
InventorsJeong K. Na, Shaun L. Freed, Erin K. Oneida
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Abstract
A system and methods of nondestructive testing are described. The system includes an immersion ultrasonic probe and a laser vibrometer. The immersion ultrasonic probe and a sample are immersed in a fluid contained in an immersion tank and the laser vibrometer is disposed outside of the immersion tank. A tightly focused ultrasonic beam from the immersion ultrasonic probe and a laser beam from the laser vibrometer are both transmitted upon a sample, the laser beam being transmitted through the wall of the immersion tank. Since the ultrasonic beam is tightly focused and the laser beam samples only a small area impinged by the ultrasonic beam, microscopic resolution is obtained.
Claims11
A non-destructive testing (NDT) apparatus, comprising:
- an immersion ultrasonic probe configured within an immersion tank and configured to generate an ultrasonic beam having a beam focal diameter of less than 300 micrometers measured at −3 dB from center peak-amplitude,
- a laser vibrometer configured outside the immersion tank, and
- a sample holder configured to hold a sample within the immersion tank,
- a scanner operatively connected to the sample holder and configured to move the sample over a user-defined scan area, wherein
- the sample holder, immersion ultrasonic probe, and laser vibrometer are aligned so that laser light from the laser vibrometer impinges a first side of the sample at a first position and the ultrasonic beam from the immersion ultrasonic probe impinges a second side of the sample at a second position directly opposite of the first position, and
- a processor configured to synchronize the scanner with data acquired by the laser vibrometer to generate an image of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.