An ultrasonic inspection method that includes arranging an ultrasonic transmission element and an ultrasonic reception element symmetrically in relation to a straight line in a diameter direction orthogonal to the cylinder axis of a cylindrical inspection object, the inspection object being interposed between the ultrasonic transmission element and the ultrasonic reception element; transmitting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmission element at a plurality of positions in the diameter direction; receiving by the ultrasonic reception element the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transmission element and transmitted through the inspection object by propagating through the inside of the inspection object; and inspecting the inspection object on the basis of a reception signal of the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic reception element.

The present invention relates to a method for making a device for monitoring the structural integrity of structures such as beams, plates and shells, made of isotropic, anisotropic and/or laminated material, and to such a device. The method provides to define a asymmetric directivity function D(k1,k2) that has, in the domain of wave numbers, a plurality of maxima arranged on different concentric circumferences having center in the origin of the axes. Then a load distribution in spatial coordinates f(x1,x2) is computed by inverse Fourier transform of the directivity function D(k1,k2). Then therefore the device is made with the electrodes, whose shape is obtained by gathering the values of the load distribution f(x1,x2) in the plane having for coordinates the set of real numbers and imaginary numbers, defining at least two sectors of said plane that comprise at least one real value and one imaginary value.

An arrangement for non-destructive testing of a component part, which may include a first end surface and a second opposite end surface. The arrangement may include a plurality of discrete piezoelectric transduction elements arranged in a circular array on the first end surface, and an electric wave signal transmitting and receiving unit electrically coupled to the piezoelectric transduction elements. The electric wave signal transmitting and receiving unit may be able to generate an electric excitation wave signal and to receive an electric response wave signal. The piezoelectric transduction elements may deform, upon an application of the electric excitation wave signal, in an in-phase shearing motion parallel to the first end surface and in respective tangential direction with respect to the circular array so as to generate a corresponding structure-borne wave in the component part at the first end surface such that said structure-borne wave can propagate in the component part.

An ultrasonic testing device that can make a robotic testing system reach the surface of a complex curved composite workpiece that is not easy to reach and perform a quality testing. By pumping a coupling liquid into the device so that the coupling liquid enters a waveguide and jets onto the surface of the workpiece, an ultrasonic wave can be transmitted in the waveguide and reach the surface of the workpiece and penetrate the workpiece, thereby achieving the purpose of quality testing of the workpiece. By providing two ultrasonic testing devices without a waveguide on both sides of a tested workpiece, respectively, and by mounting the waveguide on one side or both sides of the ultrasonic testing devices, it is possible to transmit the ultrasonic waves to the surface of the workpiece or to receive the ultrasonic waves from the surface of the workpiece.

Provided is a sensor and method for weld defect detection. The sensor includes several piezoelectric elements which form a matrix arranged on a flexible substrate. Each piezoelectric element is covered with a damping block and surrounded by sound absorbing material, and packaged within a flexible protective film. The sensor is simple, highly adaptable and high detection efficiency, which is especially suitable for the quick in-service inspection of long distance welds in large equipment, it has high degree of automation.

The invention relates to a method for detecting defects of at least one metal wire of a set of metal wires, in particular in a cable, the method including: a step of emitting a high-frequency ultrasound signal around a so-called specific frequency in the metal wire; a step of reflecting said ultrasound signal in the metal wire; and a step of receiving the reflected ultrasound signal. The emitted ultrasound signal enables the energisation of at least one high-frequency wave capable of propagating in a longitudinal direction of the metal wire and having a phase velocity that is slightly higher than a compression volume wave velocity in the metal from which the metal wire is made.

A guided wave probe for use in guided wave testing of plate structures. The probe comprises a cup having a flat or nearly flat bottom, and a guided wave sensor, such as a magnetostrictive sensor, placed in the bottom of the cup. The sensor and/or cup are coupled to the plate structure, such that ultrasonic energy from the sensor is transmitted to the cup and the plate surface. The sensor is incrementally rotated in the cup, and sensor data is acquired at each incremental position.

Provided is a method for inspecting at least a portion of a downhole conveyance device. The method, in one embodiment, includes providing a downhole conveyance device, and providing providing an ultrasonic defect inspection system adjacent the downhole conveyance device. The method, in this embodiment, further includes detecting defects in the downhole conveyance device using the ultrasonic defect inspection system, wherein the detecting includes transmitting ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic defect inspection system toward the downhole conveyance device, and obtaining defect data by sensing disruptions in the reflected ultrasonic waves caused by defects in the downhole conveyance device.

Disclosed are a substrate inspection method and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device using the same. The inspection method may include measuring a target area of a substrate using a pulsed beam to obtain a first peak, measuring a near field ultrasound, which is produced by the pulsed beam in a near field region including the target area, using a first continuous wave beam different from the pulsed beam to obtain a second peak, and measuring a far field ultrasound, which is produced by the near field ultrasound in a far field region outside the near field region, using a second continuous wave beam to examine material characteristics of the substrate.

A method of determining a thickness of a region of wall- or plate-like structure which is thinner than a thickness of a surrounding region of the structure due to a cavity in the structure is disclosed. The method comprises comparing a measured time-frequency dispersion map for at least one dispersive guided wave obtained by measuring the structure using guided waves with a reference time-frequency dispersion map obtained by modelling the structure, determining a cut-off frequency, fc, at which the measured time-frequency dispersion map and the reference time-frequency dispersion map differ and calculating the thickness of the thinner region in dependence upon the cut-off frequency.