An inspection probe and system for inspecting a welded or brazed joint includes a housing having an internal cavity and opposed tapered standoffs disposed at a distal end portion of the housing. Distal ends of the opposed tapered standoffs define pivot surfaces, and the opposed tapered standoffs are spaced apart to define a secondary enclosure. A plurality of transducer elements are disposed within the internal cavity of the housing and a primary coupling medium made of a flexible, semi-solid material is secured between the opposed tapered standoffs. A signal processing module is in communication with a data acquisition unit, which is in communication with the transducer elements. The inspection probe is rotated across the joint, data from the transducer elements is communicated to the signal processing module, and reconstructed and corrected images obtained at different angles from the transducer elements are stitched to generate an inspection image.

Embodiments provide systems and methods for utilizing acoustic sensors to detect defects via online or in situ monitoring of additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Sensors may capture acoustic waves associated with AM manufacturing operations. The acoustic emissions in combination with other sensing data, such as cameras or thermometers, may be used to characterize the state of the AM process, such as to detect a defect has occurred or confirm a defect has not occurred. When defects are detected, the AM process may be stopped to prevent further processing of a defective part. When defects are predicted as likely to occur, operational parameters of the AM device or process may be adjusted to mitigate the occurrence of a defect. The techniques disclosed herein enable detection of defects that occur underneath the surface of the part being manufactured, as well as correct issues with the AM device or process before a defect occurs.

The present invention discloses a boom monitoring method and engineering machinery comprising a boom monitoring system. The method comprises obtaining a boom damage signal monitored in boom operation by a piezoelectric sensing network formed by a plurality of piezoelectric sensors arranged at different points on a boom, and determining a damage position of the boom and a corresponding first boom damage value such that when the first boom damage value reaches a preset starting value of an optical fiber sensing network formed by a plurality of optical fiber sensors arranged at the different monitoring points on the boom, optical wave values of the corresponding monitoring points are obtained and a boom crack signal is determined. A second boom damage value is calculated according to the boom crack signal, which comprises a crack change factor and a crack length. According to the present invention, the boom is monitored with improved efficiency.

Examples of the present subject matter provide techniques for compressive sampling of acoustic data. A probe may sample in a compression mode, such that the entire matrix is not sampled at full-time resolution or spatial resolution. Therefore, the initial amount of data captured by the probe is reduced, allowing for lower density hardware (e.g., fewer analog-to-digital conversion channels or related analog front-end hardware) to be used at a lower data rate.

A method and system for identifying a cavity position of a structure based on global search includes: step 1: using a structure requiring cavity position identification as a target area, arranging acoustic emission sensors at key positions of the target area, and acquiring actual travel time of signals between the acoustic emission sensors on site; step 2: constructing cavity models for the target area; and for each cavity model, tracking shortest paths of signal propagation between the acoustic emission sensors when each cavity model exists in the target area, to obtain theoretical travel time of the signals; and step 3: respectively calculating deviations between the theoretical travel time and the actual travel time of the signals between the acoustic emission sensors corresponding to each cavity model, and using a position of a cavity model corresponding to a minimum deviation as an identified cavity position in the target area.

Embodiments provide systems and methods for utilizing acoustic sensors to detect defects via online or in situ monitoring of additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Sensors may capture acoustic waves associated with AM manufacturing operations. The acoustic emissions in combination with other sensing data, such as cameras or thermometers, may be used to characterize the state of the AM process, such as to detect a defect has occurred or confirm a defect has not occurred. When defects are detected, the AM process may be stopped to prevent further processing of a defective part. When defects are predicted as likely to occur, operational parameters of the AM device or process may be adjusted to mitigate the occurrence of a defect. The techniques disclosed herein enable detection of defects that occur underneath the surface of the part being manufactured, as well as correct issues with the AM device or process before a defect occurs.

Structural health monitoring (SHM)/nondestructive evaluation (NDE) exists as a tool in conjunction with manufactured pieces. Presently disclosed subject matter integrates automated video with a structural health monitoring system. In conjunction with bridge monitoring, integration of such two systems automates determination of the effect or correlation of vehicular loading on SHM data from a subject bridge. Such correlations help to understand the sources of structural health monitoring data, particularly acoustic emission data, in bridges and other structures, such as dams and nuclear plants. Automation of the evaluation of bridges and other structures increases accuracy and minimizes risk to workers and the public. Assessing the structural condition of bridges and other structures as presently disclosed also facilitates automated asset management of transportation systems, such as by state departments of transportation and other bridge/structural owners.

Various embodiments include a method for determining the mixing ratio R of a fluid comprising a mixture of at least two different fluids for a technical process in a device comprising: irradiating an ultrasonic signal with a transmission level along a measuring distance running inside a measuring section; measuring a receiving level of the ultrasonic signal at one end of the measuring distance; determining an ultrasonic attenuation of the ultrasonic signal attenuated by the fluid based at least on the transmission and receiving levels of the ultrasonic signal; measuring a temperature of the fluid flowing through the measuring section; and determining a mixing ratio of the at least two different fluids from the determined ultrasonic attenuation and from the measured fluid temperature.

A device for examining the interior of a pipe using multi-element ultrasound technology, finding application in the detection of defects in the wall of a tubular pipe or the verification of the characteristics of the wall of a tubular pipe is disclosed. The device is designed to be placed inside a fluid transport pipe and to move under the action of the transported fluid, to detect defects in, or check characteristics of, the wall of the pipe. The device has a circumference and comprises a plurality of ultrasonic sensors distributed over its circumference and each formed by a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of reception antennas. The device also includes an electronic controller configured to control each sensor and to receive and record the information measured by the sensors.

Described herein are systems and methods based on acoustic emission (AE) technology to monitor a concrete structure for a short interval and, based on signals acquired, estimate Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) progression status in the structure remotely and efficiently without halting any serviceability and operational activities of the structure, knowing the ASR progression status of the structure helps determine rehabilitation and future structural safety and serviceability of the structure.