Material analysis
AssigneeAirbus UK Limited
InventorDaniel Bates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Material analysis apparatus and method, particularly of use in detecting barely visible impact damage but also of use to detect other material characteristics. The apparatus includes a function generator which provides a sinusoidal signal to an ultrasonic amplifier as well as to a PC. The PC is connected to an infrared camera. The sinusoidal signal is fed into the amplifier and causes two probes attached to the sample of material to emit ultrasonic energy at the modulated frequency. Ultrasonic energy from the two probes then enters the sample by means of mechanical coupling and an image of the resulting thermal radiation is captured by the infrared camera and transferred to the PC for further processing and analysis.
Claims17
An apparatus for detecting anomolies in a material sample, said apparatus comprising:
- at least two ultrasonic probes for delivering acoustic energy at different frequencies into said material sample;
- an amplitude modulated power supply for driving said at least two ultrasonic probes;
- and
- an infrared camera for imaging at least a portion of said material sample affected by said acoustic energy and indicating said anomalies in said sample.
An apparatus for detecting anomolies in a material sample, said apparatus comprising:
- at least two ultrasonic probes for delivering acoustic energy at different frequencies into said material sample;
- amplitude modulated power supply for driving said at least two ultrasonic probes at a modulation frequency, wherein said modulation is sinusoidal;
- and
- an infrared camera for imaging at least a portion of said material sample affected by said acoustic energy, said camera sampling at a frequency which is twice the modulation frequency, said camera indicating said anomalies in said sample.
A method of detecting anomolies in a material sample, said method comprising the steps of:
- delivering acoustic energy from at least two ultrasonic probes at different frequencies into said material sample;
- amplitude modulating the acoustic energy from said at least two ultrasonic probes;
- and
- imaging by means of an infrared camera at least a portion of said material sample affected by said acoustic energy and indicating said anomalies in said sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.