Method of non-destructively testing aluminum-to-copper welds
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorRobert B. Steel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Discloses a method of non-destructively testing an aluminum-to-copper butt weld in a bar comprising an aluminum section and a copper section joined together by said weld. Forces are applied to the bar in such a manner that the weld is subjected to total stresses that are at least 80 percent, and preferably at least 90 percent, shear stresses. An acoustic emission signal is produced by the stresses at the weld, and this signal is sensed by a suitable transducer to provide an indication of weld quality.
Claims12
A method of non-destructively testing an aluminum-to-copper butt weld in a bar comprising an aluminum section and a copper section joined together by said weld, said weld extending transversely of said bar, said method comprising:
- a. applying first and second forces to the bar at spaced locations disposed relative to the bar on opposite sides of said transversely extending weld, with the weld being located closely adjacent the location at which one of said forces is applied to the aluminum section of the bar,
- b. applying to said copper section in a location adjacent said weld a third force that cooperates with said first and second forces to non-destructively load said weld primarily in shear, and said forces being sufficiently high to produce shear stresses at said weld of at least several thousand pounds per square inch, and
- c. sensing the acoustic emission signal resulting from the loading of said weld by said forces.
A method of non-destructively testing a butt weld in a bar comprising two sections of dissimilar metals joined together by said weld, said weld extending transversely of said bar, said metals being of such a nature as to react and form one or more brittle intermetallic compounds when welded together, said method comprising:
- a. applying forces to said bar that subject said weld to total stresses that are at least 80 percent shear stresses, said forces being sufficiently high to produce shear stresses at said weld of at least several thousand pounds per square inch, said forces being applied in a manner that is essentially non-destructive of said bar and said weld, and
- b. sensing the acoustic emission signal resulting from the loading of said weld by said forces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.