Method of determining the presence of anisotropic structures in the interior of as formed metal
AssigneeAluminum Company of America
InventorsMartin P. Jones, Douglas A. Granger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-destructive method for determining the presence of anisotropic structures in the interior of an as-formed metal. The method includes the steps of (a) attaching an ultrasonic transducer to the metal item prior to working the metal; (b) energizing the transducer to generate shear ultrasonic waves capable of penetrating the metal item; (c) measuring the time of flight of the shear ultrasonic waves through the metal item; (d) rotating the transducer approximately 90.degree.; (e) repeating step (c); and determining the difference between steps (c) and (e) to determine the presence of anisotropic structures in the interior of the metal item.
Claims16
A non-destructive method for determining the presence of anisotropic structures in the interior of an as-formed metal, said method including the steps of:
- a) attaching an ultrasonic transducer to said metal item prior to working said metal;
- (b) energizing said transducer to generate shear ultrasonic waves capable of penetrating said metal item;
- (c) measuring the time of flight of said shear ultrasonic waves through said metal item;
- (d) rotating said transducer approximately 90.degree.;
- (e) repeating step (c);
- and
- (f) determining the difference between steps (c) and (e) to determine the presence of anisotropic structures in the interior of said metal item.
A non-destructive method for determining the presence of twinned columnar growth in the interior of an as-cast ingot, said method including the steps of:
- (a) casting metal;
- (b) applying a couplant to said metal;
- (c) attaching a transducer capable of generating ultrasonic shear waves to said metal such tat the wave front of said ultrasonic shear waves moves in the direction perpendicular the direction used in casting said ingot;
- (d) energizing said transducer to generate shear ultrasonic waves capable of penetrating said metal;
- (e) measuring the time of flight of the front of shear waves through said metal;
- (f) changing said wave front of said transducer approximately 90.degree.;
- (g) repeating step (e);
- and
- (h) determining the difference between steps (e) and (f) to determine the presence of TCG, the magnitude of the difference between steps (d) and (f) is proportional to the magnitude of the TCG present in said metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.