Method of, and an apparatus for, evaluating forming capabilities of solid plate

A method as defined in 13 wherein the acoustic velocities established are:

• the acoustic velocities of shear waves, polarized in a plane normal to the plane of the plate V.sub.SV, propagating in the three direction;
• and
• acoustic velocities of longitudinal waves V.sub.L propagating in the three directions.

An apparatus for rapidly and non destructively evaluating forming capabilities of a solid plate, comprising:

• acoustic wave launching/detecting system for launching and detecting acoustic waves in the plate along at least two different directions, the launching/detecting system having several transducers and the distance between some of the said transducers is known to determine acoustic velocities in the plate along at least two different directions;
• computer means, connected to the lauching/detecting system, for establishing velocities of acoustic waves propagating in the plate along at least two different directions and for determining the value of a plastic strain characteristic from a previously established empirical relationship between the said velocities and the value of the said plastic strain characteristic;
• and display means for displaying the value of the said plastic strain characteristic which is indicative of the forming capabilities of the plate.