US 6,186,006 B1Granted

Method for three-dimensional and non-destructive detection of structures

AssigneeFraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.

InventorsVolker Schmitz, Herbert Wiggen-Hauser, Martin Krause, Christiane Maierhofer

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method for nondestructive, three-dimensional detection of structural elements in structures, especially those made of concrete or similar materials, allows an area to be investigated to be scanned areawise using ultrasound and by recording high-frequency, travel-time-dependent data for the individual points. In an imaging method, the respective volume image of the area being investigated is determined. This method is improved in such fashion that the accuracy of the location of structures is improved. It is proposed that the area to be investigated be scanned by both ultrasound and radar and that a structural representation of the area investigated be performed both on the basis of data acquired using sound and on the basis of data acquired using radar, with these two representations being calibrated.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for testing and monitoring a structure by nondestructive three-dimensional detection of structural elements in said structure, said method comprising the steps of:

scanning an area of the structure to be investigated with ultrasound;
recording high-frequency, travel-time dependent ultrasound scan data for individual scanned points within the scanned area,
imaging a three-dimensional image of the scanned area from the recorded ultrasound scan data,
providing an image representation of the area as a function of density changes and sound speed differences,
scanning the area to be investigated with radar,
creating a structural representation of the scanned area based on data acquired in the radar scan,
providing an image representation of the area as a function of dielectric constants, and
calibrating the three-dimensional image of the scanned area determined from the ultrasound scan with the structural representation of the scanned area based on the radar scan by varying radar and ultrasound parameters to thereby provide testing and monitoring of the structure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/214,829Filed 13 Jan 1999
Priority: DE 196 33 81322 Aug 1996
Granted: 13 Feb 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

G01N 29/069
Imaging: defect imaging, localisation and sizing using, e.g. time of flight diffraction [TOFD], synthetic aperture focusing technique [SAFT],…
G01N 29/07
Analysing solids: by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01N 29/265
Arrangements for orientation or scanning by relative movement of the head and the sensor: by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
G01N 29/30
Details , e.g. general constructional or apparatus details: arrangements for calibrating or comparing, e.g. with standard objects