Method for detecting flaw in train wheel with single ultrasonic pulse and testing device therefor

A testing device for the detection of a flaw, in a region of interest in a train wheel, comprising:

• a transmitting array of individually controllable ultrasonic transmitting transducers for insonifying an ultrasonic field into a train wheel;
• a controller configured for controlling the ultrasonic transmitting transducers for insonification of the ultrasonic field into the train wheel;
• a receiving array of individually controllable ultrasonic receiving transducers for receiving resulting echo signals from the train wheel, with each ultrasonic receiving transducer providing an analog time-resolved echo signal;
• a generator for generating a circular relative movement of the ultrasonic transmitting array, the ultrasonic receiving array and the train wheel about a common axis of rotation;
• a transducer-specific digitizer for digitization of the time-resolved analog echo signals;
• and
• a temporary storage for storing the time-resolved, transducer-specific, digitized echo signals in the form of an echo signal set;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• control each ultrasonic transmitting transducer of the transmitting array with a specific transient excitation signal, respectively, each transient excitation signal being generated based on an ultrasonic transmitting transducer-specific stored digital transient excitation function,
• digitize the time-resolved analog echo signals based on transducer-specific digitization;
• temporarily store the time-resolved, transducer-specific, digitized echo signals in the form of an echo signal set;
• and
• correlate the temporarily stored echo signal set with a single ultrasonic pulse insonified into the train wheel.