Ultrasonic defect testing method and apparatus

An ultrasonic defect testing method for an object having a three-dimensional curved surface, comprising the steps of:

• (a) scanning the object under test with a scanner having an ultrasonic probe having at least three LED's mounted thereon;
• (b) detecting the at least three light emitting diodes (LED's) of the scanner with a position sensitive device (PSD) or charge coupled device (CCD) camera and measuring a three-dimensional shape of the object under test to obtain shape data representing a shape thereof;
• (c) testing a defect of the object under test by use of the ultrasonic probe of the scanner to obtain defect test data representing a defect testing result;
• and
• (d) three-dimensionally determining a position of a defect zone in the object under test on the basis of the shape data and the defect test data.

An ultrasonic defect testing method for testing an object having a three-dimensional curved surface comprising the steps of:

• (a) reading shape data representing a three-dimensional shape of the object under test from a storage;
• (b) examining the object under test for a defect by three-dimensionally scanning the object with an ultrasonic probe to obtain defect data representing a defect test result;
• (c) monitoring the ultrasonic probe to contactlessly measure a three-dimensional position of the ultrasonic probe, to obtain positional information of the ultrasonic probe;
• and
• (d) three-dimensionally determining a position of a defect zone in the object under test on the basis of the shape data and the defect test data, by utilizing the positional information of the ultrasonic probe.

An ultrasonic defect testing apparatus for an object having a three-dimensional curved surface, comprising:

• means for measuring a three-dimensional shape of the object under test to obtain shape data representing a shape thereof;
• an ultrasonic probe for measuring the object under test to obtain defect test data representing a defect testing result by three-dimensionally scanning the object with the ultrasonic probe;
• means for monitoring the ultrasonic probe to contactlessly measure a three-dimensional position of the ultrasonic probe, to thereby obtain positional information of the ultrasonic probe;
• means for preparing combined image information by utilizing the positional information of the ultrasonic probe to superimpose a three-dimensional graphic image of a defect zone prepared on the basis of the defect test data on a three-dimensional graphic image of the object under test prepared on the basis of the shape data;
• and
• means for displaying a combined image on a display screen in accordance with the combined image information.

An ultrasonic defect testing apparatus for an object having a three-dimensional curved surface, comprising:

• a scanner having at least three light emitting diodes (LED's) mounted on an ultrasonic probe;
• means for scanning the object under test by said scanner;
• means for detecting projected lights from the at least three LED's of said scanner;
• means for measuring a three-dimensional shape of the object under test on the basis of the output from said detection means to obtain shape data representing the shape thereof;
• means for testing a defect of the object under test by use of the ultrasonic probe of said scanner to obtain defect test data representing a defect test result;
• and
• means for three-dimensionally determining a position of a defect zone in the object under test on the basis of the shape data and the defect test data.

An ultrasonic defect testing apparatus for an object having a three-dimensional curved surface, comprising:

• means for reading shape data representing a three-dimensional shape of the object under test from a storage;
• an ultrasonic probe;
• means for testing a defect of the object under test by three-dimensionally scanning the object with the ultrasonic probe to obtain defect test data representing a defect test result;
• means for monitoring the ultrasonic probe to contactlessly measure a three-dimensional position of the ultrasonic probe, to thereby obtain positional information of the ultrasonic probe;
• and
• means for three-dimensionally determining a position of the defect zone in the object under test on the basis of the shape data and the defect test data, by utilizing the positional information of the ultrasonic probe.