Abstract: A method of inspecting non-destructively a specimen for examining the presence or absence of a defect in the specimen, in which an ultrasonic wave is emitted from a probe and a reflected wave from the specimen is received by the probe whose output signal is processed to determine the presence or absence of the defect. The signal processing includes steps of extracting characteristic parameters from a frequency spectrum of the ultrasonic echo and comparing the extracted parameter with corresponding experimentally or theoretically determined values. The invention makes it possible to automatically determine discriminatively whether the reflector of the ultrasonic echo is a configured portion, a weld boundary or a defect of a specimen to be inspected.

Abstract: A portable testing device for directly measuring developed lateral pressure induced on a material by a vertical applied pressure while the lateral expansion is adjustable. The testing device comprises a thin-walled cylindrical sleeve-like receptacle which is capable of lateral expansion in response to a vertical applied force on the material contained in the receptacle. The sleeve is provided with a slit formed in the wall thereof which extends between the upper and lower ends thereof to define first and second side edge portions. Apparatus is provided for preventing and/or adjusting lateral movement of the first side edge portion as the vertical applied force is applied to the material contained in the receptacle. A pressure sensing cylinder is connected to the second side edge portion and has a fluid pressure gauge operatively connected thereto for sensing the developed lateral stress.