Systems and methods for evaluating an anisotropic composite material are provided. In one example implementation, a system includes a guided wave source configured to provide one or more guided waves to the anisotropic composite material. The system includes at least one sensor configured to measure a property of the one or more guided waves in the anisotropic composite material. The system includes one or more processors configured to receive output signals from the at least one sensor. The one or more processors are configured to construct a phased array of a plurality of output signals associated with different locations on the anisotropic composite material. The one or more processors are configured to generate a directional output beam associated with phased array based at least in part on a direction dependent guided wave parameter.

A high-aspect ratio structure production method and an ultrasonic probe production method of the present invention include: forming, in a principal surface of a substrate, a plurality of pores each extending in a direction intersecting the principal surface; plugging, among the plurality of pores, one or more pores formed in a first region; and forming a recess in a second region by a wet etching process. A high-aspect ratio structure includes a grating having a plurality of convex portions, wherein each of the plurality of convex portions is provided with a plugging member plugging a plurality of pores formed therein in a thickness direction of the structure.

An ultrasonic inspection probe assembly includes a flexible ultrasonic transducer array located between a backing block and a face layer. The flexible ultrasonic transducer array can be located in the opening of a flexible ultrasonic transducer array frame.

Integrated probes and probe systems suitable for attachment to a robotic arm of a remotely operated vehicle are disclosed. The probes and probe systems serve to perform cleaning operations and both cathodic protection (CP) voltage measurements and ultrasonic testing (UT) thickness measurements at an underwater surface. The cathodic protection measurement system includes one or more electrically conductive legs that extend outwardly from the probe. These legs are arranged about a cleaning tool and an ultrasonic sensor. When the integrated probe contacts the underwater surface, at least one leg contacts the surface, thereby providing a desired distance between the probe and the underwater surface for efficient cleaning and UT inspection. The underwater surface can be cleaned and CP and UT measurements can all be performed using a single, integrated probed during a single operation, without having to reposition the probe.

Substrate is produced by using a MEMS technique to form multiple diaphragms in a substrate by forming piezoelectric material layer on one surface of the substrate and thereafter by forming openings in the substrate from the other surface of the substrate; substrate and substrate on which signal detection circuit is formed are aligned to each other using at least one of multiple diaphragms as alignment diaphragm; and substrate and substrate are bonded together.

A method for non-destructive testing of walls of components, at least one ultrasonic transducer (1) which is fixed to a surface of the wall is used to emit horizontally polarized transverse waves (3) in a lateral propagation direction and compression waves or vertically polarized transverse waves (6) in a radial propagation direction. The at least one ultrasonic transducer (1) and/or at least one further ultrasonic transducer arranged at a known distance from the at least one ultrasonic transducer (1) on the respective wall of the component (2) is/are used to detect horizontally polarized transverse waves (4) reflected by defects and compression waves or vertically polarized transverse waves (7) after or while running the non-destructive testing of the wall in order to determine the respective wall thickness.

An acoustic while drilling receiving transducer array adopts a full-digital structure and a non-oil-filled rubber encapsulation arrangement mode, and the full-digital device of the acoustic while drilling receiving transducer array includes first modules, configured to carry out acoustic-to-electric conversion on weakly received acoustic signals of strata; second modules, configured to carry out amplification, filtering, gain control and digital-to-analog conversion on the weakly received acoustic signals; and a third module, configured to control interfaces of the device and convert external input and output signals.

The disclosed method of diffusion bonding of a lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric crystal to a metal wear plate, for the fabrication of an ultrasonic transducer operable at high temperatures and able to withstand repeated thermal cycling, comprises depositing noble metal coatings on both bonding surfaces, bringing the surfaces into contact, and heating under pressure at a temperature ranging from 270 to 400° C.

An ultrasonic sensor for guided wave testing is disclosed. The sensor comprises a flexible circuit board (2), an array of piezoelectric elements (10) on the flexible circuit board and an array of permanent magnets (16). Each piezoelectric element is interposed between a respective permanent magnet and the flexible circuit board.

Methods and systems for analyzing an industrial structure are provided. With a plurality of sensors (e.g. FBGs and/or piezoelectric transducers and/or electromagnetic acoustic transducers) deployed in, on or in proximity to the structure, sensors are interrogated and a function representative of the impulse response of the structure is determined by passive inverse filter. Subsequently, a map of the propagation of the elastic waves through the structure is determined via various modalities, and in particular by tomography (of bulk or guided waves, by analysis of time of flight or of the complete signal). Embodiments especially relate to the management of the number and position of the sensors, to the use of artificial noise sources, and to automatically controlling the sensors and/or noise sources to monitor the health of the structure, or even to view the dynamic behavior of the structure.