The invention relates to novel processes for determining the quality of an uncrosslinked rubber mixture by means of ultrasound and to an apparatus suitable for this purpose.

The present invention relates to a method for identifying material types of spatial objects characterized in that the method comprising obtaining an acoustic signal from each identified object by deforming the objects mechanically, recording said acoustic signal and comparing it to an acoustic model being obtained on the basis of analysis of reference objects of multiple material types. The present invention also relates to a device for identifying material types of spatial objects, comprising a deformation chamber (K), a mechanical deformation system (F), at least one electro-acoustic transducer (1), an acoustic signal recording assembly (2) and a data processing unit (3) with installed acoustic model being obtained on the basis of analysis of reference objects of multiple material types.

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.

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 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.

A device (1) including an ultrasonic measuring unit (7) that sends an ultrasonic signal (S1) into a structure (2) and measures the amplitude of the ultrasonic signal (S2) reflected by the structure (2), a processing unit for determining the thickness of the interposition mastic (3) from the measurements of the ultrasonic measuring unit (7) and with the aid of a propagation model of the interposition mastic (3) which provides a thickness value of the interposition mastic (3) depending on the propagation time of the ultrasonic signal in the interposition mastic (3) as well as auxiliary data, and a processing unit for deducing a conformity or a lack of conformity of said interposition mastic (3) and the presence of cuttings from the thickness of the interposition mastic (3), the device (1) carrying out a conformity checking that is accurate, fast and reliable without having to disassemble the structure (2).

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for tagging and acoustically characterizing containers.

The invention relates to a method for checking the silanization of pale-colored fillers, where a mixture comprising at least one silanized pale-colored filler, preferably silanized silica, and comprising at least one rubber is irradiated with ultrasound waves in a frequency range of 4 to 10 MHz, preferably of 5 to 7 MHz, and the signal strength of the ultrasound waves is determined after transmission through the rubber mixture, where the relative attenuation coefficient α.sub.rel of the rubber mixture in the frequency range of the ultrasound waves is determined, the standard deviation σ of the relative attenuation coefficient α.sub.rel is determined, and α.sub.rel and σ are used for detection of incipient crosslinking of the rubber mixture.

A tire damage detection system for a vehicle includes: a tire; at least one sensor disposed in association with the tire to detect a noise signal when the tire rolls on a road surface to move the vehicle, the noise signal having a plurality of frequency peaks in a frequency spectrum of the noise signal; and a processor to monitor target frequency peaks of the frequency spectrum to detect damage of the tire, and to generate an alert signal in response to the detection of the damage of the tire.

Systems and methods are provided for ultrasonic imaging of composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes providing an object having multiple layers of fibers and resin, inducing ultrasonic waves at locations along the object, and attenuating the ultrasonic waves at the regions due to regions interspersed among the layers that each exhibit an elastic modulus distinct from an elastic modulus of the fibers and distinct from an elastic modulus of the matrix. The method further includes receiving the attenuated ultrasonic waves, and analyzing the attenuated ultrasonic waves to determine depths of the regions.

A transducer for monitoring integrity of an adhesive bond between a first element and a second element, the transducer comprising: a transducing adhesive, the transducing adhesive provided to act as at least one of: an actuator to convert an electrical signal to an acoustic signal and a sensor to convert an acoustic signal to an electrical signal; and an electrode provided on the transducing adhesive, the electrode provided to perform at least one of: providing an electrical signal to the transducing adhesive and receiving an electrical signal from the transducing adhesive; wherein, in use, the transducer is provided at least partially in the adhesive bond between the first element and the second element, and the acoustic signal is passed through the adhesive bond.