The present invention relates to method for ultrasonic inspection of a test object, comprising the steps of defining a coordinate system of the test object; selecting, relative to the coordinate system of the test object, at least two positions of a test area; positioning a respective ultrasonic measuring device at the at least two positions within the test area; transmitting, an ultrasonic wave pattern into the test object; receiving an ultrasonic wave pattern signal; acquiring an ultrasonic reference wave pattern signal for a reference area of a reference object, and comparing the received ultrasonic wave pattern signal from the test object with the acquired ultrasonic reference wave pattern signal of the reference object for detecting a defect in the test object.

According to one embodiment, a control method includes setting a transmission angle of an ultrasonic wave to a standard angle. The control method further includes transmitting an ultrasonic wave at the set transmission angle and detecting an intensity of a reflected wave from an object. The control method further includes calculating a tilt angle based on a gradient of the intensity. The tilt angle indicates a tilt of the object. The control method further includes resetting the transmission angle based on the tilt angle.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.

According to one embodiment, a control method includes setting a transmission angle of an ultrasonic wave to a standard angle. The control method further includes transmitting an ultrasonic wave at the set transmission angle and detecting an intensity of a reflected wave from an object. The control method further includes calculating a tilt angle based on a gradient of the intensity. The tilt angle indicates a tilt of the object. The control method further includes resetting the transmission angle based on the tilt angle.

A system and method for measuring characteristics, comprising: a directed energy source having an energy output which changes over time, incident on an object undergoing additive manufacturing; a sensor configured to measure a dynamic thermal response of at least a portion of the object undergoing additive manufacturing proximate to a directed location of the directed energy source over time with respect distance from the directed location; and at least one processor, configured to analyze the measured dynamic thermal response to determine presence of a manufacturing defect in the object undergoing additive manufacturing, before completion of manufacturing.

An apparatus for inspecting a railroad track may include a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor may detect a first signal while the second sensor may detect a second signal. The first signal may correspond to a response of the railroad track, at a first location on the railroad track, to a motion of a rail car wheel on the railroad track. The second signal may correspond to the response of the railroad track, at a second location on the railroad track, to the motion of the rail car wheel on the railroad track. The controller may generate, based on the first signal and the second signal, a transfer function corresponding to the response of the railroad track at the second location to stimuli applied at the first location. Defects in the railroad track may be detected by analyzing the transfer function.

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).

A temperature insensitive oscillator system. The system includes a substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a CMOS device with one or more CMOS circuits attached to the first surface of the substrate, one or more piezoelectric transducers attached to an outer surface of the CMOS device, a voltage-controlled oscillator generating a RF frequency, which is transmitted as a plurality of short pulses to the one or more piezoelectric transducers, and one or more delays and oscillators using resistor and active components arranged alongside the piezoelectric transducers or on the CMOS device such that the voltage-controlled oscillator has minimal dependence on temperature, and has minimal deviation from a programmed frequency.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for the characterization of a microtexture of a sample, component, or the like. The methods may include methods of determining a service life limiting region of a component, determining a treatment method for a component, and/or selecting components from a batch of components for use in production. The characterization may include calculating a microtexture level indicator from ultrasonic C-scan images for various samples, regions, components, or the like. The microtexture level indicator may include at least one of an average peak factor, a standard deviation of peak amplitude, and/or a baseband bandwidth.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.