An ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic probe and an analyzer. The probe includes a flexible delay line and an ultrasonic transducer array at a first delay line end. A second delay line end can contact a target. The analyzer can receive ultrasonic echoes from the ultrasonic transducers representing amplitude of ultrasonic signals reflected from the target as a function of time from transmission. The analyzer determines a maximum amplitude of the echoes received by each transducer, scale the maximum amplitudes based upon a greatest maximum amplitude, and bin the scaled maximum amplitudes. The analyzer assigns each bin a color and generate a C-scan based upon the scaled amplitudes. Each C-scan pixel can correspond to at least one transducer, and the relative position of each C-scan pixel can correspond to the relative position of the ultrasonic transducer represented by the pixel. Each pixel can be displayed with its assigned color.

A wedge for on-line inspection of a weld includes a wedge body defining a coolant channel and at least one couplant channel, and a coolant input port in fluid connection with a first end of the coolant channel. The wedge body has a surface for disposing a phased array ultrasonic transducer comprising an array of ultrasonic elements. The coolant channel is formed in proximity to the surface for disposing the phased array ultrasonic transducer such that coolant flowing through the coolant channel maintains the phased array ultrasonic transducer below a predetermined temperature without obstructing the array of ultrasonic elements.

A phased array probe system and method for testing a spot-weld on a structure. The phased array probe includes a plurality of transducers and may include a flexible delay line. The phased array probe is positioned at a first position on the structure relative to the spot-weld. First ultrasonic signals are generated to and received from the spot-weld using at least one first transducer of the phased array probe. The first received ultrasonic signals are processed to determine a second optimized position on the structure relative to the spot-weld. Second ultrasonic signals are generated at the second optimized position to and received from the spot-weld using second transducers of the phased array probe. The second received ultrasonic signals are processed to determine a feature dimension of the spot-weld.

An automatic ultrasonic imaging inspection method and system based on a six-axis manipulator. The method includes: controlling, by a motion control card, a six-axis manipulator to perform scanning and an external axis motor to move; when scanning, feeding back, by a probe, an echo signal; when the probe moves to another scanning line, sending, by a controller, a displacement information of the probe along a stepping direction to an ultrasonic imaging device; when the external axis motor works, feeding back, by an encoder, a displacement information of the probe along a scanning direction to the ultrasonic imaging device; allowing the external axis motor to work when the probe moves along a scanning line; and generating, by the ultrasonic imaging device, a two-dimensional scanning image according to the echo signal, and the displacement information of the probe along the stepping direction and the scanning direction.

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 ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic probe and an analyzer. The probe includes a flexible delay line and an ultrasonic transducer array at a first delay line end. A second delay line end can contact a target. The analyzer can receive ultrasonic echoes from the ultrasonic transducers representing amplitude of ultrasonic signals reflected from the target as a function of time from transmission. The analyzer determines a maximum amplitude of the echoes received by each transducer, scale the maximum amplitudes based upon a greatest maximum amplitude, and bin the scaled maximum amplitudes. The analyzer assigns each bin a color and generate a C-scan based upon the scaled amplitudes. Each C-scan pixel can correspond to at least one transducer, and the relative position of each C-scan pixel can correspond to the relative position of the ultrasonic transducer represented by the pixel. Each pixel can be displayed with its assigned color.

A method for dynamically acquiring data representing a part to be tested, the method includes a multi-element sensor acquiring data concerning the part to be tested, transmitting an ultrasonic shot, receiving a returned wave returned by the part resulting from the ultrasonic shot, generating data representing the part to be tested, and during the data acquisition step, a relative movement between the sensor and the part to be tested, the method further includes generating corrected data representing the part to be tested by simulating a relative movement between the sensor and the part to be tested up to a reference position.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for the characterization of a microtexture of a sample, component, or the like. The methods may include methods of determining a service life limiting region of a component, determining a treatment method for a component, and/or selecting components from a batch of components for use in production. The characterization may include calculating a microtexture level indicator from ultrasonic C-scan images for various samples, regions, components, or the like. The microtexture level indicator may include at least one of an average peak factor, a standard deviation of peak amplitude, and/or a baseband bandwidth.

An ultrasonic detection and tensile calibration test method for bonding strength grade comprising bonding an upper substrate block to bonding groove(s) to form a theoretical bonding area, and applying a downward actual tensile force to a lower substrate block; obtaining an actual bonding area of the theoretical bonding area; calculating a first actual bonding strength by using the actual tensile force and the actual bonding area, and comparing the first actual bonding strength with a second actual bonding strength calculated to verify the correctness of the theoretical bonding area as a calibrated bonding strength; forming a bond strength table in which the theoretical bonding areas, the actual bonding areas and the first actual bonding strengths are in one-to-one correspondence; and using the actual bonding area to find the actual bonding strength corresponding to the actual bonding area from the bonding area bonding strength table.

Systems and methods for improving spectral-shift methods for calculating acoustic attenuation coefficients are disclosed. Systems, methods, and apparatuses for transmitting ultrasound pulse sequences for improved signal-to-noise outside the main passband of ultrasound transducers are disclosed. Systems, methods, and apparatuses for using the echoes from the transmitted pulse sequences to calculate the attenuation coefficient are disclosed.