Method to optimize generation of ultrasound using mathematical modeling for laser ultrasound inspection

An ultrasonic testing system operable to test physical attribute(s) within a manufactured object, comprising:

• a sonic energy signal generator operable to produce a sonic energy signal within the manufactured object, the sonic energy signal having properties determined by a set of operating characteristic(s) associated with the sonic energy generator;
• a sonic energy detector operable to detect the sonic energy signal;
• a signal analyzer communicatively coupled to the sonic energy detector operable to extract information representative of the physical attribute(s) within the manufactured object from the sonic energy signal;
• and
• a model processor, communicatively coupled to the signal analyzer and to the sonic energy signal generator, wherein the model processor is operable to:
• determine when a favorable signal to noise ratio (SNR) is associated with the sonic energy signal;
• determine an optimized set of operating characteristic(s) associated with the sonic energy generator, wherein the sonic energy signal, when using the optimized set of operating characteristic(s), is operable to produce sonic energy signal(s) within the manufactured object having an improved signal to noise ratio (SNR) when a favorable SNR is not associated with the sonic energy signal.

A method for generating an optimized sonic energy signal in a manufactured object that results in an improved signal to noise ratio (SNR) within sampled sonic energy signal(s), the method comprising:

• deriving an optimized operating characteristic of a sonic energy signal generator;
• adjusting the sonic energy signal generator to the optimized operating characteristic to produce the optimized sonic energy signal;
• and
• operating the sonic energy signal generator to produce the optimized sonic energy signal.

A method for generating an improved sonic energy signal for use in testing a physical attribute of a manufactured object, the method comprising:

• operating a sonic energy signal generator in a first state to produce a sonic energy signal about the manufactured object;
• measuring the sonic energy signal with a sonic energy signal measuring device;
• analyzing the result of the step of measuring;
• determining when a favorable signal to noise ratio (SNR) is associated with the sonic energy signal;
• deriving a second state of operation of the sonic energy signal generator based on the step of analyzing when a favorable SNR is not associated with the sonic energy signal, wherein the second state of operation is operable to produce sonic energy signal(s) within the manufactured object having an improved signal to noise ratio (SNR);
• and
• selectively adjusting the sonic energy signal generator to operate in the second state to produce a second sonic energy signal.

A method for adaptively generating an improved sonic energy signal for use in testing a physical attribute of a manufactured object with a sonic signal generator and a sonic measuring device, the sonic signal generator operable in a first and a second state of operation, the sonic signal generator generating sonic signals about the manufactured object, the sonic measuring device measuring the sonic signals generated by the sonic signal generating device, the method comprising:

• producing a first sonic energy signal with the sonic signal generating device operating in the first state of operation;
• determining when a favorable signal to noise ratio (SNR) is associated with the sonic energy signal;
• determining when a favorable signal to noise ratio (SNR) is not associated with the sonic energy signal, wherein a second state of operation is operable to produce sonic energy signal(s) within the manufactured object having an improved SNR;
• selectively, based on the output of the step of determining:
• deriving the second state of operation of the sonic generating device;
• and
• producing a second sonic energy signal with the sonic signal generating device operating in the second state of operation.

A method for testing a physical characteristic in a portion of a manufactured object, the portion comprising sections, the method comprising:

• testing a first section in the portion of the manufactured object, the step of testing comprising:
• determining the initial operating state of a sonic energy signal generator, a model processor determining the initial operating state;
• operating the sonic energy signal generator in the initial operating state, the sonic energy signal generator initiating a sonic energy signal about the manufactured object,
• determining when a favorable signal to noise ratio (SNR) is not associated with the sonic energy signal, wherein a second state of operation is operable to produce sonic energy signal(s) within the manufactured object having an improved SNR;
• and another
• selectively operating in the other operating state based on the step of determining if another operating state is justified;
• and
• testing each of the remaining sections according to the step of testing the first section, until the portion has been completely tested.