A dual channel nondestructive testing method for a rock bolt and related devices includes: determining a target phase difference and an instantaneous phase difference of the first received signal and the second received signal; determining an integral instantaneous phase difference between the first received signal and the second received signal based on the target phase difference and an instantaneous phase difference; determining a length of the exposed section of the rock bolt, a length of the rock bolt and a position of a grouting defect based on the integral instantaneous phase difference, a first velocity of the acoustic signal propagating in an exposed section of the rock bolt and a second velocity of the acoustic signal propagating in an anchor section of the rock bolt.

Methods and apparatus to measure and analyze vibration signatures are disclosed. In some examples, a meter is provided comprising a waveform generator to generate a waveform based on first distance measurements of an object. In some examples, the meter includes a waveform generator to determine a first vibration characteristic of the object based on the waveform. In some examples, the meter includes a comparator to compare the first vibration characteristic to a signature vibration characteristic of the object, the signature vibration characteristic of the object indicative of normal characteristics of the object. In some examples, the meter includes a reporter to, in response to determining the first vibration characteristic does not match the signature vibration characteristic, generate an alert.

A testing system for evaluating the performance of an electrical/electronic UUT under dynamic operating conditions. The testing system includes a dynamic testing component (e.g., a centrifuge) for applying a stimulus to the UUT, and an iDAQ system configured to perform in situ data acquisition and real-time data analysis. The iDAQ system may also be subject to the stimulus. The iDAQ system includes a processor (e.g., an SoC) component, a power supply, a CR/I component, an IR component, and a single enclosure. The processor component may control the dynamic testing component, including varying in real-time the stimulus applied to the UUT. The processor component may include multiple input channels, and a high current/voltage subcomponent of the power supply may be configured to supply up to five hundred volts.

A transducer system with transducer and circuitry for applying a pulse train at a single frequency to excite the transducer. The transducer is operable to receive an echo waveform in response to the pulse train. The system also comprises circuitry for determining a time of flight as between a first reference time associated with the pulse train and a second reference time associated with the echo waveform.

The invention relates to very precisely measuring changes in thickness of pipe walls to determine corrosion rate prior to any significant corrosion loss. The thickness is determined by ultrasonic testing where many measurements of the wall thickness are taken at the same spot by a fixed sensor and errors associated with noise and temperature changes are substantially eliminated. A highly sensitive receiver converts each reflected pulse to waves that are averaged with other pulse measurements. The resulting average wave is analyzed so that each waveform is analyzed to identify the extrema and inflection points of each reflected pulse. The resulting analysis provides a far more accurate determination of the time between reflected pulses. As a result, a far more accurate picture of corrosion at the location of the wall of the pipe can be determined within weeks with a high degree of confidence.

The invention is a method for the nondestructive examination of a test specimen using ultrasound. Ultrasonic waves are coupled into the test specimen with ultrasonic transducers. Ultrasonic waves, which are reflected within the test specimen, are received by the ultrasonic transducers and converted into ultrasonic signals. The method determines an average noise level, to which all discrete signal information is subjected, determines volume elements assigned to each discrete signal information having a signal level with a signal-to-noise ratio R (which is referred to as an average noise level), of 6 dB≤R, determines pairs of volumes separated by a distance A which is equal to or less than a wavelength of the ultrasonic waves coupled into the test specimen. Volumes are combined into a group and the discrete signal information is evaluated, based on at least one of polarization, frequency, wave type and wave mode.

A system for detecting the presence of biofilm on an inner surface of a body used for containing a fluid medium. The system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location external to the body, a receiver located at a second location external to the body, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller configured to control the transmitter to transmit an ultrasonic signal in a direction towards the body and receive, via the receiver, an attenuated signal that is the ultrasonic signal after passing through the body. The electronic controller is configured to determine a phase shift between the ultrasonic signal and the attenuated ultrasonic signal, determine an amplitude difference between the ultrasonic signal and the attenuated ultrasonic signal, and generate an indication of an amount of biofilm present on the inner surface of the body based on the phase shift and the amplitude difference.

An assessing device capable of assessing presence or absence of local damage in a structure is provided. The assessing device includes a dominant frequency identifying unit that identifies a dominant frequency of a vibration at each of a plurality of spots in a structure, based on information indicating the vibration at each of the plurality of spots, a phase difference identifying unit that identifies a phase difference at the dominant frequency between the vibrations at the plurality of spots, based on the dominant frequency and information indicating the vibrations; and an assessing unit that assesses damage in the structure, based on the phase difference.

Detection, identification, and monitoring of various composite-damage types such as impact damage, delaminations, etc. using angle-beam coupled guided waves and methods and systems that permit excitation with angle-beam techniques of certain composite-material guided-wave modes that cannot be excited in isotropic metals with angle-beam methods.

An active mechanical waveguide including an ultrasonically-transmissive material and a plurality of reflection points defined along a length of the waveguide may be driven at multiple resonant frequencies to sense environmental conditions, e.g., using tracking of a phase derivative. In addition, frequency-dependent reflectors may be incorporated into an active mechanical waveguide, and a drive frequency may be selected to render the frequency-dependent reflectors substantially transparent.