Methods for measuring mechanical properties of an object or subject under examination with an ultrasound system and using unfocused ultrasound energy are provided. Shear waves that propagate in the object or subject are produced by applying unfocused ultrasound energy to the object or subject, and measurement data is acquired by applying focused or unfocused ultrasound energy to at least one location in the object or subject at which shear waves are present Mechanical properties are then calculated from the acquired measurement data.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for real-time visualization of a material during ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of showing a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a composite laminate constructed of a series of two-dimensional (2-D) cross sections. The GUI is capable of displaying the 3-D image as each additional 2-D cross section is scanned by an ultrasonic testing apparatus in real time or near real time, including probable defect regions that contain a flaw such as a hole, crack, wrinkle, or foreign object within the composite. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the system includes an artificial intelligence capable of highlighting defect areas within the 3-D image in real time or near real time and providing data regarding each defect area, such as the depth, size, and/or type of each defect.

An ultrasonic device including: an element substrate including a diaphragm, a vibrator provided at the diaphragm, and a first electrode electrically coupled to the vibrator; a protective substrate that is provided at a position facing the element substrate and that includes a second electrode coupled to the first electrode at a position facing the first electrode; a through hole substrate that has a through hole and that faces the element substrate; and a container including a mounting surface on which the protective substrate is disposed, in which the vibrator is provided at a position overlapping the through hole when viewed from a facing direction in which the element substrate and the protective substrate face each other, and is surrounded by the element substrate, the protective substrate, and a jointing member, and the second electrode is provided at an opposite-side surface of the protective substrate from a jointing surface jointed with the mounting surface.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for real-time visualization of a material during ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of showing a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a composite laminate constructed of a series of two-dimensional (2-D) cross sections. The GUI is capable of displaying the 3-D image as each additional 2-D cross section is scanned by an ultrasonic testing apparatus in real time or near real time, including probable defect regions that contain a flaw such as a hole, crack, wrinkle, or foreign object within the composite. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the system includes an artificial intelligence capable of highlighting defect areas within the 3-D image in real time or near real time and providing data regarding each defect area, such as the depth, size, and/or type of each defect.

Methods and systems for measuring one or more properties of a soft material employ air transmitted ultrasound that is reflected from the soft material to generate a mechanical wave in the soft material. A method of measuring one or more properties of a soft material includes transmitting ultrasound through air to an interface boundary between the soft material and air. Force is applied to the soft material by reflecting the ultrasound from the soft material. A mechanical wave is generated in the soft material as a result of the force applied to the soft material. Propagation of the mechanical wave in the soft material is measured with an imaging system. One or more properties of the soft material is determined based on the measured propagation of the mechanical wave in the soft material.

An ultrasound probe can detect flaws in an object in a non-destructive manner. The probe includes a row-column addressed (RCA) array with a plurality of row and column electrodes. The row and column electrodes are configurable to have at least four states: 1) a transmission state, 2) a reception state, 3) a ground state, and 4) a high impedance state. The probe also includes a control circuit to operate the RCA array in different transmission and reception configurations.

Transmit-Receive Longitudinal (TRL) probes can be used for the inspection of noisy material, such as austenitic materials. By using various techniques, an inspection area is not constrained by a wedge design of an ultrasonic probe and the benefits of using a linear probe array (rather than a matrix) are maintained. Volumetric or TFM-like imaging on austenitic materials using a linear transmit array and a linear receive array that are out of plane with one another (a TRL configuration) and not in the main imaging place can simplify the inspection and analysis of such materials. For each scan position, an ultrasound probe can acquire acoustic imaging data. Then, a processor can then combine acquisitions from adjacent scan positions to create an imaging result using synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) principles to recreate a focalization in a passive axis of the probe.

An ultrasound probe can detect flaws in an object in a non-destructive manner. The probe includes a row-column addressed (RCA) array with a plurality of row and column electrodes. The row and column electrodes are configurable to have at least four states: 1) a transmission state, 2) a reception state, 3) a ground state, and 4) a high impedance state. The probe also includes a control circuit to operate the RCA array in different transmission and reception configurations.

Methods, systems, devices, and products for ultrasonic borehole logging using an ultrasonic borehole imaging tool in a borehole intersecting the earth formation. Methods may include adjusting a focus for an ultrasonic beam generated from a single-transducer ultrasonic assembly of the ultrasonic imaging tool; using a receiver to generate measurement information responsive to an ultrasonic signal caused by the ultrasonic beam; and estimating a parameter of interest from the measurement information. Methods may include adjusting the focus in dependence upon environmental conditions, the environmental conditions comprising at least one of: i) standoff between the ultrasonic imaging tool and a wall of the borehole; and ii) borehole annulus conditions. Methods may include adjusting the focus in substantially real-time. The ultrasonic beam may be focused with a focal zone at the borehole wall configured to produce a beam spot size of a selected diameter.

An imaging device includes a transducer that includes an array of piezoelectric elements formed on a substrate. Each piezoelectric element includes at least one membrane suspended from the substrate, at least one bottom electrode disposed on the membrane, at least one piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and at least one top electrode disposed on the at least one piezoelectric layer. Adjacent piezoelectric elements are configured to be isolated acoustically from each other. The device is utilized to measure flow or flow along with imaging anatomy.