System and method for inspecting a structure with coda acoustic waves
AssigneeSafran
InventorMathieu Loïc Ducousso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for inspecting a structure with coda acoustic waves, via a given surface (S) that is accessible from the exterior of the structure. The system operates to acoustically excite the structure at least one determined excitation point (Pe1) of the given surface (S) with an ultrasonic pulse of determined form, measure vibrations at least three set measurement points (Pmi) on the given surface (S), during a time window set with respect to the ultrasonic pulse, and exploit the vibration measurements in order to define an indication (Pd) in the structure of at least one possible defect using a coda acoustic-wave signal at each of the measurement points (Pmi).
Claims15
System for inspecting a structure by means of acoustic coda waves from a given surface (S) that is accessible from the exterior of the structure, said system comprising:
- excitation-generating means arranged to acoustically excite said structure at least one set excitation point (Pe1) on the given surface (S) by means of an acoustic pulse (e(t)) of a determined form,
- at least one measuring means arranged to measure vibrations (hi(t)) at least three determined measurement points (Pmi) on the given surface (S), in a determined time window relative to the acoustic pulse (e(t)),
- electronic means arranged to utilize the vibration measurements (hi(t)) provided by said measuring means in order to define an indication (Pd) in said structure of at least one potential defect,
- said system wherein said electronic means are configured to extract a signal of the structural acoustic coda waves (ci(t)) to the measured vibration (hi(t)) in each of said measurements points (Pmi), said at least one measuring means are arranged to take the measurements in the air and without contacting the structure.
Method for inspecting a structure by means of acoustic coda waves from a given surface (S) that is accessible from the exterior of the structure, said method comprising:
- a step a) of acoustically exciting said structure at least one set excitation point (Pe1) on the given surface (S) by means of an acoustic pulse (e(t)) of a determined form,
- a step b) of measuring vibrations (hi(t)) of the structure at least three set measurement points (Pmi) on the given surface (S), in a determined time window after the acoustic pulse (e(t)),
- a step c) of utilizing vibration measurements (hi(t)) of the structure in order to define an indication of at least one potential defect in said structure,
- said method wherein, in the step c), a signal of the structural acoustic coda waves (ci(t)) is extracted to the measured vibration (hi(t)) in each of said measurements points (Pmi) and in step b), the measurements are taken without bringing a measuring device into contact with the structure.
The method according to 8, further comprising, when a potential defect is located, a complementary step involving defining at least three new measurement points (P′m1-P′m4) on the given surface (S) which are closer to said defect than each of the measurement points (Pm1-Pm6) used previously, and a new sequence for carrying out steps a), b) and c), using said new measurement points (P′m1-P′m4).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.