System and method for real-time visualization of foreign objects within a material
AssigneeBaylor University
InventorsDavid A. Jack, Rifat Ara Nargis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a system and method for real-time visualization of a material during ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The system is capable of producing A-scans, B-scans, and C-scans of the test object and automatically highlighting potential foreign objects within the test object based on the scan data. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of displaying a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a composite laminate constructed of a series of two-dimensional (2-D) cross sections. In one embodiment, the system includes an artificial intelligence module capable of highlighting foreign objects in order to provide size data, shape data, and/or depth data of the foreign object.
Claims20
A system for non-destructive testing in identification of foreign objects, comprising:
- at least one ultrasonic transducer in communication with at least one processor;
- wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is operable to emit ultrasonic waves to and receive reflected ultrasonic waves from a test object to produce signal data;
- wherein the at least one processor generates A-scans for a plurality of spatial locations of the test object based on the signal data;
- wherein the at least one processor constructs a plurality of C-scan slices based on the A-scans;
- wherein the at least one processor implements k-means clustering for each of the plurality of C-scan slices and determines a candidate C-scan slice based on the k-means clustering;
- and
- wherein the at least one processor determines a geometric perimeter, an effective radius, and/or an area of at least one foreign object based on a binarized version of the candidate C-scan slice.
A method for identifying foreign objects with non-destructive testing, comprising:
- at least one ultrasonic transducer communicating with at least one processor;
- the at least one ultrasonic transducer emitting ultrasonic waves to and receiving reflected ultrasonic waves from a test object to produce signal data;
- the at least one processor generating A-scans for a plurality of spatial locations of the test object based on the signal data;
- the at least one processor constructing a plurality of C-scan slices based on the A-scans;
- the at least one processor implementing k-means clustering for each of the plurality of C-scan slices and determining a candidate C-scan slice based on the k-means clustering;
- and
- the at least one processor determining a geometric parameter, an effective radius, and/or an area of at least one foreign object based on a binarized version of the candidate C-scan slice.
A system for non-destructive testing in identification of foreign objects, comprising:
- at least one ultrasonic transducer in communication with at least one processor;
- wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer is operable to emit ultrasonic waves to and receive reflected ultrasonic waves from a test object to produce signal data;
- wherein the at least one processor generates A-scans for a plurality of spatial locations of the test object based on the signal data;
- wherein the at least one processor constructs a plurality of C-scan slices based on the A-scans;
- wherein the at least one processor implements k-means clustering for each of the plurality of C-scan slices and determines a candidate C-scan slice based on the k-means clustering;
- and
- wherein the at least one processor generating a depth of at least one foreign object based on the candidate C-scan slice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.