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 phased array ultrasonic inspection system configured for weld inspection includes a data analysis process with automated and optimized gating to take into account the actual distance between a phased array probe and a weld line. The system embodies a weld tracking module and a dynamic gating module. The tracking module produces dynamically corrected overlays of the weld line based on the echo signals, the dynamically corrected overlays having a series of offsets from the corresponding initial overlays. The dynamic gating module purposefully positions a plurality of data analysis gates to filter out noise signals caused by sources unrelated to the weld, and to provide dynamic target gating adjusted by at least part of the offset.

An ultrasonic flaw detection device (A) includes: an ultrasonic probe (2) that emits ultrasonic waves to an inspection object (P) and detects reflected waves; a sheet material (1) attached to a surface of the inspection object and having two-dimensional patterns, the two-dimensional patterns being arranged on the inspection object and indicating positions on the inspection object; an imaging device (3) attached to the ultrasonic probe and imaging the two-dimensional patterns (1a); and a processing unit (21) that reads position information indicating a position on the inspection object from a captured image captured by the imaging device and relates a detection result of the ultrasonic probe to the position information, wherein the processing unit determines an index indicating the degree of quality of the detection result based on an air pocket area (HA) that is an area in which air pockets are shown in a predetermined area (H) of the captured image.

A method for detecting a position anomaly of a test object on a workpiece, the method including capturing an image of the test object to obtain image data; determining a real position of the test object in relation to the testing robot based on the image data; moving a testing sensor carried by the testing robot into contact with the test object based on the real position; acquiring test data of the test object by means of the testing sensor when the testing sensor is in contact with the test object; and detecting a position anomaly of the test object based on a comparison between a test object position and a reference position, the test object position being based on the real position, based on the test data and/or based on a position of the testing robot when the testing sensor is in contact with the test object.

A method of identifying a bond boundary between a sound bond and weak bond in a multilayer article may include determining a plurality of positions on a surface of the article; for each position of the plurality of positions, obtaining a full-wave, time domain waveform of ultrasonic waves reflected from the article; and, for each pair of adjacent positions among the plurality of positions, determining whether there is a bond boundary between a first position and a second position based on a comparison of a waveform characteristic of a first waveform generated at the first position and the waveform characteristic of a second waveform generated at the second position; and in response to a determination that there is a bond boundary between the first position and the second position, determining a boundary position based on the first position and the second position and memorializing the boundary position.

Disclosed herein is a system and method for inspecting a bonded structure in a component. The system includes an integrated probe and a processor coupled to the integrated probe. The integrated probe includes an ultrasonic component and a laser component. The ultrasonic component is configured to transmit pulsed sound waves into the bonded structure and receive reflected pulsed sound waves from the bonded structure. The laser component is configured to generate laser pulses and direct the laser pulses to the bonded structure to generate tension waves across the bonded structure. The processor is configured to test a bonded structure in the component. Further, the processor includes a pre-test module configured to operate the ultrasonic component in a pre-test mode, a test module configured to operate the laser component in a test mode, and a post-test module configured to operate the ultrasonic component in a post-test mode.

A system and method for evaluating a bond is provided. The system uses an underwater spark discharge to generate a compression wave in a first vessel containing a liquid. The system further includes a second vessel in which a vacuum is pulled to hold the first vessel against a bonded structure being inspected. The compression wave is directed to propagate from the liquid into the bonded structure to apply a known force to the bond being inspected.

A method of performing a selected task in a tank at least partially filled with an energetic substance includes, in part, configuring a mobile platform to be inherently safe by positioning spark-generating components in either or both of: (i) an inherently safe enclosure that prevents a spark occurring inside the inherently safe enclosure from passing to an exterior of the inherently safe enclosure, and (ii) a spark-neutralizing body formed of at least one non-flammable substance and positioned inside an enclosure, the spark-neutralizing body blocking direct contact between a spark from the enclosed spark-generating component and an energetic substance from occurring inside the at least one enclosure. The method also includes positioning at least one spark-generating component not inside any inherently safe enclosure that prevents a spark occurring inside the inherently safe enclosure from passing to an exterior of the inherently safe enclosure. The sparks are capable of igniting the energetic substances.

Disclosed herein is a detection assembly for detecting kissing bonds in a bonded joint of a part. The detection assembly comprises an electromagnetic shockwave generator that is configured to generate an electromagnetic shockwave through a target portion of the bonded joint. The electromagnetic shockwave has an intensity sufficient to induce a separation of a kissing bond in the target portion of the bonded joint and insufficient to induce a separation of a healthy bond, adjacent the kissing bond, in the target portion. The detection assembly also comprises an ultrasonic sensor that is configured to generate a transmitted ultrasonic pulse, direct the transmitted ultrasonic pulse into the target portion of the bonded joint, and receive a received ultrasonic pulse from the target portion of the bonded joint in response to the electromagnetic shockwave generator generating the electromagnetic shockwave through the target portion of the bonded joint.

A system includes an inspection robot comprising a plurality of sensor sleds; a plurality of ultra-sonic (UT) sensors; a couplant chamber mounted to each of the plurality of sleds, each couplant chamber comprising: a cone, the cone comprising a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end of the cone; a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion; a couplant entry fluidly coupled to the cone at a position between the cone tip portion and the sensor mounting end; and wherein each of the UT sensors is mounted to the sensor mounting end of one of the couplant chambers.