Detection of Near Surface Inconsistencies in Structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJill Paisley Bingham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of detecting near surface inconsistencies in a structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the structure. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected to form data. The data is processed to identify a frequency associated with the near surface inconsistency.
Claims19
A method of detecting a presence of a near surface inconsistency in a structure, the method comprising:
- directing a pulsed laser beam towards the structure, wherein wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the structure;
- detecting the wide-band ultrasonic signals to form data;
- and
- processing the data to identify a frequency associated with the near surface inconsistency, wherein the frequency is indicative of the presence of the near surface inconsistency.
A method of detecting a presence of a near surface inconsistency in a composite structure, the method comprising:
- directing a pulsed laser beam towards the composite structure, wherein wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the composite structure;
- detecting the wide-band ultrasonic signals to form data;
- filtering the data based on a desired depth of detection;
- and
- determining a frequency associated with the near surface inconsistency, wherein the frequency is indicative of the presence of the near surface inconsistency.
A method of measuring thickness of an organic coating on a surface of a substrate, the method comprising:
- directing a pulsed laser beam towards the organic coating, wherein wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the organic coating and the substrate when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the organic coating and the substrate;
- detecting the wide-band ultrasonic signals to form data;
- filtering the data based on a desired depth of detection;
- determining a frequency associated with the thickness of the organic coating, and
- determining the thickness of the organic coating based on the frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.