A method of detecting inconsistencies in a structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the structure. A plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is formed in the structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the structure. The plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is detected to form data.

A device for testing a test material for defects within the test material has an acoustic broadband transducer offset from the test material surface during testing by a distance so that the transducer acquires acoustic waves across an air gap from the test material, wherein the acoustic waves arise from impact of an impact member on the test material.

Disclosed is a measuring device for measuring the height of a foreign object in a pipe comprising an ultrasound transmission unit including an ultrasound generator disposed in a first area of an outer surface of a pipe through which fluid passes, and generating ultrasound, and a transmission medium disposed between the ultrasound generator and the first area to transmit the ultrasound to the first area, an ultrasound receiving unit including a receiving medium unit disposed in the second area of the outer surface of the pipe, and consisting of an ultrasound receiver, and a receiving medium disposed between the ultrasound receiver and the second area, and a signal measurer connected to the ultrasound receiver for measuring the ultrasound signal received by the ultrasound receiver or a signal corresponding thereto.

A UT method includes steps of: placing multiple sensors on a test object, the sensors each having multiple elements; connecting the sensors to a UT device such that multiple elements each selected one by one from each of the sensors are set as one group, and the multiple elements belonging to a same group are selectively connected to a common connector of the UT device via a switcher; inputting to the UT device a collection of UT conditions used for the multiple sensors; causing the UT device to perform UT operations sequentially while switching the sensors connected to the UT device with the use of the switcher; and storing UT data in which the sensors used for UT match UT conditions on the basis of the order of execution of UT conditions included in the collection of UT conditions.

A fixed value residual stress test block, comprising a main body (1) and two welded blocks (2); the main body (1) and the welded blocks (2) are all rectangular metal blocks; the welded blocks (2) are welded onto the two opposite side surfaces of the main body (1); the main body (1) is deformed under the upper and lower pressures and generates residual stress. The fixed value residual stress test block has a simple structure.

The invention consists in a method of characterizing a part made of composite material (30), the method comprising a step of determining a characteristic of a longitudinal ultrasound wave (41) traveling along a path within the part (30), and being characterized in that the travel time of a longitudinal ultrasound wave (42) transmitted by the part (30) is measured (E4).

A fixed value residual stress test block, comprising a main body (1) and two welded blocks (2); the main body (1) and the welded blocks (2) are all rectangular metal blocks; the welded blocks (2) are welded onto the two opposite side surfaces of the main body (1); the main body (1) is deformed under the upper and lower pressures and generates residual stress. The fixed value residual stress test block has a simple structure.

A spherical body inspection apparatus including a support arrangement realized to support a spherical body during an inspection procedure; a probe arrangement comprising a plurality of UT probes arranged about the spherical body such that the UT probes target a common test point at the surface of the spherical body; and a displacer for effecting at least one relative rotational displacement between the spherical body and the probe arrangement. Also described is a method of inspecting a spherical body.

Methods and devices are provided for detecting, corrosion and cracks in fastener nuts. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus can be configured to couple to a fastener nut to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut for detection of flaws in the fastener nut, such as corrosion and cracks. The apparatus can be configured to couple to the fastener nut when the fastener nut is mounted on a fastener and in use in a larger system such as a subsea drilling apparatus or other system in which fasteners with fastener nuts attached thereto are used. The apparatus can include an ultrasonic probe configured to facilitate inspection of the fastener nut using ultrasonic waves.

Disclosed is a composite focusing wedge for ultrasonic non-destructive testing/inspection. The composite wedge comprises a base made of machined or cast material, and a lens made of a material which is cast in liquid form and subsequently solidifies. The acoustic velocity in the base material is less than that in the lens material. The castable lens material conforms exactly to a convex machined or cast surface of the base, thereby forming a concave lower surface of the lens. A flat ultrasonic probe is coupled to a planar upper surface of the lens. The minimum distance between the lower concave and upper planar surfaces of the lens is less than one acoustic wavelength in the lens material. The ringdown time of reverberations between the two surfaces is then sufficiently short that there is no interference between the reverberations and signals from sub-surface flaws in the object being tested.