In one example, a method performed by electronic circuitry comprises: causing a transducer to transmit a first signal; receiving a second signal from the transducer; computing distances responsive to a time between the first and second signals; determining a vibration characteristic based on the distances; reading reference vibration characteristics from data in a memory; comparing the input vibration characteristic to the reference vibration characteristics; and responsive to the comparing, performing at least one of: providing a signal representing a status of the comparing; or updating the data in the memory.

A method of monitoring both liner wear and charge impact in an industrial mill uses a sensor mounted on an elongated element deployed through a shell into a liner of the mill. The elongated element wears at a same rate as the liner under conditions within the shell. Liner wear is related to a reduction in length of the elongated element as measured by travel time of an ultrasound wave, while location and strength of charge impact is related to change in amplitude of vibrations caused by the charge impact. Liner wear measurement can be improved by using shear ultrasound waves instead of conventional longitudinal ultrasound waves. A mill monitoring apparatus has a means for acquiring ultrasonic waves and audible sound waves using the same digitizer; a means for determining the angular position of the monitoring apparatus; and a means for supplying electric power to the apparatus.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for the characterization of a potential microtexture region (MTR) of a sample, component, or the like. The methods may include determining a threshold width of spatial correlation coefficient and/or a threshold spatial correlation coefficient slope for an actual MTR, characterizing a potential MTR as an actual MTR or a defect, characterizing an actual MTR as an acceptable MTR or not, and/or characterizing various components with potential MTRs as defective or not. The characterization may include calculating a width of spatial correlation coefficient and/or a spatial correlation coefficient slope of the potential MTR and comparing the width of spatial correlation coefficient to a threshold width of spatial correlation coefficient and/or comparing the spatial correlation coefficient slope to a threshold spatial correlation coefficient slope for the potential MTR to be characterized as an actual MTR or a defect (crack).

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for the characterization of a potential microtexture region (MTR) of a sample, component, or the like. The methods may include determining a threshold width of spatial correlation coefficient and/or a threshold spatial correlation coefficient slope for an actual MTR, characterizing a potential MTR as an actual MTR or a defect, characterizing an actual MTR as an acceptable MTR or not, and/or characterizing various components with potential MTRs as defective or not. The characterization may include calculating a width of spatial correlation coefficient and/or a spatial correlation coefficient slope of the potential MTR and comparing the width of spatial correlation coefficient to a threshold width of spatial correlation coefficient and/or comparing the spatial correlation coefficient slope to a threshold spatial correlation coefficient slope for the potential MTR to be characterized as an actual MTR or a defect (crack).

Methods and devices for detecting a defect in a rail of a railway track, include at least two sensors selected from among magneto-acoustic and/or piezoelectric and/or magnetostrictive transducers; each sensor being associated with a timestamping circuit of a GNSS satellite positioning system; a measuring circuit for measuring, by way of the sensors, the acousto-elastic waves propagating in the rail, the wave or signal measurements being timestamped. Some developments describe notably active and passive modes; the use of train crossings; the emission of waves; the determination of the existence and then of the position and finally the characterization of the defect, where applicable; preferred placements for installing the sensors; the use of inter-correlation, passive inverse filter or correlation of coda of correlation methods; the use of mobile robots and/or drones; the use of artificial noise sources.

Methods and devices for detecting a defect in a rail of a railway track, include at least two sensors selected from among magneto-acoustic and/or piezoelectric and/or magnetostrictive transducers; each sensor being associated with a timestamping circuit of a GNSS satellite positioning system; a measuring circuit for measuring, by way of the sensors, the acousto-elastic waves propagating in the rail, the wave or signal measurements being timestamped. Some developments describe notably active and passive modes; the use of train crossings; the emission of waves; the determination of the existence and then of the position and finally the characterization of the defect, where applicable; preferred placements for installing the sensors; the use of inter-correlation, passive inverse filter or correlation of coda of correlation methods; the use of mobile robots and/or drones; the use of artificial noise sources.

A spot-welding electrode assembly includes an electrode, an electrode cap at an outer end of the electrode, and a plurality of transducer elements positioned inward of the electrode cap. The transducer elements may be micro-elements. A method for monitoring a weld formed by a spot-welder includes passing current from an electrode assembly through a stack-up, transmitting an ultrasonic wave from each of a plurality of sources in the electrode assembly to a plurality of points in the stack-up, and monitoring the ultrasonic waves to monitor the weld formation.

A spot-welding electrode assembly includes an electrode, an electrode cap at an outer end of the electrode, and a plurality of transducer elements positioned inward of the electrode cap. The transducer elements may be micro-elements. A method for monitoring a weld formed by a spot-welder includes passing current from an electrode assembly through a stack-up, transmitting an ultrasonic wave from each of a plurality of sources in the electrode assembly to a plurality of points in the stack-up, and monitoring the ultrasonic waves to monitor the weld formation.

A method is provided in which an ultrasonic signal is generated as an electromagnetic ultrasonic signal by the at least one transmitting transducer, which is in the form of an EMUS transducer, by means of a conductive layer arranged on the surface of the object or in said object. An evaluation apparatus is used to utilize the ultrasonic signal detected by the at least one receiving transducer, which is in the form of an EMUS transducer, in order to determine a flaw in the form of a delamination, a porefield or other such two-dimensional inhomogeneities.

A method is provided in which an ultrasonic signal is generated as an electromagnetic ultrasonic signal by the at least one transmitting transducer, which is in the form of an EMUS transducer, by means of a conductive layer arranged on the surface of the object or in said object. An evaluation apparatus is used to utilize the ultrasonic signal detected by the at least one receiving transducer, which is in the form of an EMUS transducer, in order to determine a flaw in the form of a delamination, a porefield or other such two-dimensional inhomogeneities.