Described herein are Compressive Sensing algorithms developed for automated reduction of NDE/SHM data from pitch-catch ultrasonic guided waves as well as a methodology using Compressive Sensing at two stages in the data acquisition and analysis process to detect damage: (1) temporally undersampled sensor signals from (2) spatially undersampled sensor arrays, resulting in faster data acquisition and reduced data sets without any loss in damage detection ability.

A device and a method for detecting at least one defect in a test object (2). At least one test head (1) radiates an ultrasonic signal at different measuring points (MP) into the test object (2) with each point at an insonation or radiation angle (α) in order to ascertain multiple measurement data sets (MDS). The angle is constant for each data set (MDS). An analyzing unit (4) carries out an SAFT (Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique) analysis for each ascertained measurement data set (MDS) using a common reconstruction grid (RG) inside the test object (2) in order to calculate an SAFT analysis result for each measurement data set (MDS). The analyzing unit (4) superimposes the calculated SAFT analysis results in order to calculate an orientation-independent defect display value (S.sub.RP) for each reconstruction point (RP) of the common reconstruction grid (RG).

A contactless odometer system can include a sensor array. The sensor array can include a plurality of sensing elements adjacent to a target surface and configured to receive signals based on a distance separating the sensing element from the adjacent surface and a defect present below the adjacent surface of the target. The system can also include a controller configured to receive the signals from first and second locations within the target and to generate first and second defect maps corresponding to the first and second locations. The controller can identify overlapping portions of first and second defect maps and can determine a translation distance in at least one direction. Related methods of determining a distance traveled by a contactless odometer system are also provided.

Devices for detecting plate bending, or flexural, waves include at least two mechanical resonators positioned on a plate in a specified configuration. Each mechanical resonator has an associated oscillation amplitude detector, such as a laser vibrometer, configured to detect resonant oscillation of the mechanical resonator in response to an incident flexural wave. A ratio of frequency-dependent oscillation data for each mechanical oscillator is compared to a calibration curve to determine the angle of incidence of the flexural wave.

A method for the non-destructive testing of the volume of a test object, during the course of which a volume raw image of the test object is recorded by a suitable non-destructive imaging testing method. Then, those regions of the volume raw image are identified that are not to be attributed to the test object material. It is checked whether an identified region is completely embedded in regions that are to be associated with the test object material. If necessary, such a region is assimilated to those regions that are to be associated with the test object material, forming a filled volume raw image. Finally, a difference is generated between the volume raw image and the filled volume raw image, forming a first flaw image.

A measurement device and a measurement method capable of measuring a depth of a damage source in a structure having a thickness of a predetermined value or more. According to an embodiment, a measurement device includes a first detector and a signal processing device. The first detector selectively detects surface waves that are excited when first elastic waves generated inside a structure formed of a solid material have reached a surface of the structure. The information processing device obtains information about a depth of a source of the first elastic waves within the structure on the basis of information of at least one of an amplitude and a time of arrival of the surface waves detected by the first detector.

Examples of the present subject matter provide techniques for calculating amplitude fidelity (AF) for a variety of grid resolutions using a single TFM image of a specified flaw. Thus, the grid resolution may be set so that it yields a desired AF using a calculation process without performing a blind iterative process. Moreover, examples of the present subject matter may measure AF in more than one axis, improving accuracy.

A method and apparatus for evaluating an object having a wrinkle are provided. An array of receiving elements is configured such that only two receiving apertures are configured to receive at a given point in time. Energy is sent into the object using an array of transmitting elements. Reflected energy is received at the only two receiving apertures of the array of receiving elements in response to a portion of the energy being reflected off a plurality of layers in the object. A number of dimensions of a wrinkle in the object is determined based on the reflected energy received at the only two receiving apertures of the array of receiving elements.

A system and method directed to displaying images and presenting the data from the phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) inspection of a plurality of welded joints within a welded object. The system includes an engine comprising memory, a graphical user interface (GUI), an export module, a transformation module, and a merger module each operably coupled to one another. The export module is used to extract images and data from the PAUT inspection of the welded joints. The exported information is used by the transformation module to create a multi-dimensional representation of the PAUT inspected welded joint for each joint. The merger module combines the information from the export module and the transformation module into an evaluation report for each PAUT inspected welded joint and assembles the evaluation report into a master report for analysis. The system may be communicatively coupled over a network using a network interface.

The invention relates to a method for detecting and characterizing defects in a heterogenous material via ultrasound. Said method includes the following steps: —emitting ultrasound waves from an emitting ultrasound transducer placed against the material; —acquiring, by means of a receiving ultrasound transducer in various positions relative to said material, a plurality of time signals, representing the amplitude of the sound propagated in the material as a function of time, for a position of the receiving ultrasound transducers, —determining a time function representing a spatially averaged power of the time signals that correspond to different positions of the receiving transducer; and —normalizing the time signals by means of said time function so a to obtain normalized time signals. The defects in the material are detected from said normalized time signal.