Detection of gas characteristics, especially the detection of the gas composition, the temperature and/or humidity of a gas, by measuring the speed of sound with a sound sender and a sound receiver both mounted on common structure. A method for determining the humidity of the scavenge air of an internal combustion engine. A speed of sound based gas sensor arrangement adapted to measure gas characteristics, especially the gas composition, the temperature and/or the humidity of a gas, including a sender, a receiver and a signal processing unit. The speed of sound is determined by driving the sender and receiver at different operation cycles in order to differentiate between the different travel times of the sound through the gas and the common structure of solid material.

Quality control of a periodic structure is performed using the damping rate of acoustic waves generated in the periodic structure. In this technique, an excitation light beam illuminates the first layer in the periodic structure to excite an acoustic wave. Possible irregularities in the periodic structure can scatter the acoustic wave, thereby increasing the damping rate of the acoustic wave. A sequence of probe light beams illuminates the periodic structure to measure the acoustic wave as a function of time to generated a temporal signal representing the damping rate of the acoustic signal. The acquired damping rate is employed to evaluate the quality of the periodic structure.

According to an embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter transmits a first ultrasonic wave including burst waves of a first period. The first ultrasonic wave is incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver. The first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object is incident on the receiver. The receiver outputs a signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave. The processor obtains the signal and performs a first operation. The first operation includes deriving first and second signal values from the signal, and inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values. The first signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of first periods The second signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of second periods.

A compression technique can be used for processing or storage of acquired acoustic inspection data. For example, data indicative of peak values of an A-scan time-series can be stored to provide a compressed representation of such time-series data. A representation of the original A-scan data can be reconstructed, such as using the data indicative of the peak values, and a digital filter. Such an approach can dramatically reduce a volume of data associated an acoustic acquisition, such as a Full Matrix Capture (FMC) acquisition to be used for Total Focusing Method (TFM) beamforming and related imaging.

An automated device for non-destructive testing for the detection of defects of a complex tubular product includes at least one ultrasound transducer arranged to emit an ultrasound beam having an emission orientation. The automated device further includes control and processing electronics configured to define at least one ultrasound burst parameter as a function of the longitudinal and/or circumferential position of the ultrasound emission means, so as to detect defects in the tube wall. The at least one parameter being chosen from the burst emission orientation, the gain or the position of the temporal filter.

An automated device for non-destructive testing for the detection of defects of a complex tubular product includes at least one ultrasound transducer arranged to emit an ultrasound beam having an emission orientation. The automated device further includes control and processing electronics configured to define at least one ultrasound burst parameter as a function of the longitudinal and/or circumferential position of the ultrasound emission means, so as to detect defects in the tube wall. The at least one parameter being chosen from the burst emission orientation, the gain or the position of the temporal filter.

A method, apparatus and program product may evaluate a packaging material to determine various metrics associated with the packaging material. A test apparatus may be used to evaluate packaging material using a take up drum capable of sensing containment force imparted upon the drum by packaging material applied thereto, and in some instances, simulated flaws may be formed in a web of packaging material to evaluate a packaging materials response to such flaws when under tension.

According to an embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter transmits a first ultrasonic wave including burst waves of a first period. The first ultrasonic wave is incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver. The first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object is incident on the receiver. The receiver outputs a signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave. The processor obtains the signal and performs a first operation. The first operation includes deriving first and second signal values from the signal, and inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values. The first signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of first periods The second signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of second periods.

A method for detecting faults in plates includes the steps of: transmitting an acoustic signal towards the plate from a transmitting transducer, and receiving the acoustical signal from the plate in a receiving transducer. The receiving transducer is mounted at a distance from the transmitting transducer. The method includes the further steps of identifying zones of the plate wherein energy levels of the received signals are attenuated compared to other zones of the plate, and comparing the energy levels of the A.sub.2 and S.sub.3 guided Lamb modes in the received signals in the identified zones.

A method for detecting breaks or defects in railroad spikes transmits an ultrasonic signal that propagates along the body of the spike and detects the resulting reflected ultrasonic signal. The reflected signal is then analyzed to automatically detect the presence of a break or defect in the spike based on the time delay between the reflected signal and the transmitted signal.