Abstract: An apparatus having a transducer configured to generate acoustic energy, a buffer rod with a first end and a second end, the transducer in contact with the first end, a cylinder configured to define a volume, the second end of the buffer rod abutting the cylinder; and a piston within the cylinder.

Abstract: A test head for testing a workpiece has an ultrasonic transducer configuration with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. The test head further contains a carrier matched to a surface contour of the workpiece, a damping layer arranged on the carrier, and a flexible conductor foil configuration, which is arranged on the damping layer and has a number of electrically separated conductor tracks which corresponds to the number of transducer elements. The transducer elements are arranged on the conductor tracks alongside one another in at least one row, and in each case are electrically contact-connected to one of the conductor tracks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the oscillation amplitude of a sonotrode excited by a converter, wherein the converter is connected to a current generator and the current IE(t) provided by the current generator and flowing through the converter is measured. According to the invention, in order to provide a method for determining the oscillation amplitude of a sonotrode excited by a converter, the voltage UE(t) applied to the converter by the current generator is measured and the oscillation amplitude of the sonotorode or a field quantity of the electrical oscillation system comprising the current generator and the converter, said field quantity being related to the oscillation amplitude of the sonotrode, is calculated from the measured voltage UE(t) and from the measured current IE(t).

Abstract: Methods and systems (10) based on guided wave thermography for non-destructively inspecting structural flaws that may be present in a structure (15). For example, such systems and methods may provide the ability to selectively deliver sonic or ultrasonic energy to provide focusing and/or beam steering throughout the structure from a fixed transducer location (12, 14, 16). Moreover, such systems and methods may provide the ability to selectively apply sonic or ultrasonic energy having excitation characteristics (FIGS. 11 and 12) which may be uniquely tailored to enhance the thermal response (FIGS. 5 and 7) of a particular flaw geometry and/or flaw location.

Abstract: A low-power miniaturized photoacoustic sensor uses an optical microphone made by semiconductor fabrication techniques, and optionally allows for all-optical communication to and from the sensor. This allows integration of the photoacoustic sensor into systems with special requirements, such as those that would be reactive in an electrical discharge condition. The photoacoustic sensor can also be operated in various other modes with wide application flexibility.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic device including: an ultrasonic element array substrate having a plurality of ultrasonic elements that each include a piezoelectric body; an acoustic lens secured via an acoustic matching layer to a surface, formed with the ultrasonic elements, of the ultrasonic element array substrate; and a support member secured to a surface, opposite to the surface formed with the ultrasonic elements, of the ultrasonic element array substrate, wherein the support member is formed to have a larger area, in plan view in the thickness direction of the ultrasonic element array substrate, and a higher bending stiffness than the ultrasonic element array substrate, and the acoustic lens is formed to have a lower bending stiffness than the ultrasonic element array substrate. The above-described ultrasonic device further includes an acoustic matching layer filled between the ultrasonic element array substrate and the acoustic lens.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the properties of a fluid, such as water, in a steam pipe without mechanically penetrating the wall of the pipe. The system uses a piezoelectric transducer to launch an ultrasonic probe signal into the pipe. Reflected ultrasonic signals are captured in a transducer, which can be the same transducer that launched the probe signal. The reflected signals are subjected to data processing, which can include filtering, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion and autocorrelation analysis. A result is extracted which is indicative of a property of the fluid, such as a height of the condensed fluid, a cavitation of the condensed fluid, and a surface perturbation of the condensed fluid. The result can be recorded, displayed, and/or transmitted to another location. One embodiment of the system has been constructed and tested based on a general purpose programmable computer using instructions recorded in machine-readable non-volatile memory.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor assembly for a test object includes a sensor array having a plurality of sensor elements. The sensor elements detect a characteristic of the test object. The sensor elements are arranged in a matrix formation. Each of the sensor elements includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal and a receiver for receiving the transmitted signal. The sensor array has a curvature that substantially matches a curvature of the test object. A method of detecting characteristics of the test object is also provided.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of determining normalized delta times of arrival corresponding to a plurality of blades based upon actual times of arrival corresponding to the plurality of blades, and determining static deflections of the plurality of blades by removing effects of one or more common factors from the normalized delta times of arrival corresponding to the plurality of blades.

Abstract: An ultrasonic test equipment includes: a signal generating mechanism that generates a voltage waveform; an ultrasonic transmitting mechanism that excites ultrasonic vibrations having a lower frequency than a predetermined frequency to an object to be tested; an ultrasonic receiving mechanism that receives an ultrasonic response from the object to be tested; an AD converting mechanism that digitizes the received ultrasonic waveform; an analyzing mechanism that performs frequency analysis of the digital ultrasonic waveform digitized by the AD converting mechanism; an evaluating mechanism that extracts a variation of a nonlinear ultrasonic component from a frequency component of the digital ultrasonic wave obtained by the frequency analysis, compares the variation with defect data information in a defect information database, identifies a physical quantity of defect information of the object to be tested, and evaluates a defect in the object to be tested; and a control mechanism that partly or entirely controls

Abstract: A method of indicating a medium misfeed along a medium transport path comprising one or more rollers for conveying the medium along the medium transport path; a microphone for detecting the sound of the conveyed medium and producing a signal representing the sound; a processor for producing sound values from the signal; providing a sensitivity setting responsive to the sound values; and indicating the medium misfeed responsive to the sound values and the sensitivity setting.

Abstract: An array probe 3 is provided with an array probe body 32 having a plurality of transducers 31 linearly arranged. The array probe is provided with a vibration insulating member 4 that is installed onto a transducer surface 33 to absorb the vibrations of the transducer surface, and an installation frame 5 for installing the vibration insulating member. The vibration insulating member has an opening part 41, and the width dimension of the opening part is smaller than the width dimension of the transducer surface. By installing the vibration insulating member having the opening width dimension corresponding to the distance from a test object surface of a target flaw onto the transducer surface, ultrasonic testing is performed, whereby even for a flaw near the surface, flaw echo is made less liable to be buried in surface echo, and the flaw can be detected easily.

Abstract: A solution for evaluating the condition of a rail component based on resonant response profiles across a set of bands of vibrations. The vibrations can be induced into the target component during normal operation of the target component. The resonant response profile of the rail component can vary depending on wear or damage, and thus can be used to determine whether the rail component can safely remain in use. An embodiment comprises an isolated segment of rail of a length selected to allow a single railroad wheel on it at a time, with a set of devices which can induce specific vibrations into the wheel as it passes, and another set of devices which can acquire the resonance signals from the wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying out high cycle fatigue tests of a specimen under high pressure, including: a pressure vessel; a load train including a first horn and a second horn between which a specimen is to be arranged, wherein the load train is arranged within an internal chamber of the pressure vessel; and a converter configured to apply ultrasonic waves into the load train by exciting the first horn to apply a dynamic stress to the specimen. A base part of the second horn is movably seated in the pressure vessel such that two separated chambers are formed within the pressure vessel with the first chamber for the specimen, wherein both chambers can be fed with gas and charged with different gas pressures in order to apply a static stress to the specimen.

Abstract: There is provided an aluminum die cast part strength evaluating method is provided for correctly evaluating strength of an actual aluminum die cast part. Strength of the actual aluminum die cast part will be correctly evaluated by conducting ultrasonic inspection of a predetermined range of a high stress region of an aluminum die cast part, which is found out through stress analysis beforehand, for an internal defect, and evaluating that the aluminum die cast part has a predetermined strength if the maximum internal defect area within the predetermined range is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Moreover, an actual aluminum die cast part with a predetermined strength will be evaluated correctly by: evaluating strength using the aluminum die cast part strength evaluating method and setting the maximum-possible internal defect area within the predetermined range of the high stress region to 0.8 mm2 or less.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for transmitting a light towards a plurality of acousto-optic retro reflectors, arranged as an array, that are configured to physically react to an acoustic signal. The physical reaction modulates the transmitted light which is reflected back towards a light detector and analyzed. The analysis may include detecting an acoustic signal source location and/or reconstructing the acoustic signal. A light scanner may be configured to transmit the light towards the plurality of acousto-optic retro reflectors in a predetermined, continuance, or dynamically determined sequence.

Abstract: A scanning acoustic microscope includes a transducer mounted in a cup below a particular elevation capable of producing ultrasonic energy and a coupling fluid source disposed below the particular elevation, which is configured to introduce coupling fluid into the cup. Ultrasonic energy is directed upwardly through coupling fluid disposed between and contacting the transducer and a first surface of a part to be inspected. The part is disposed at the particular elevation such that a second surface of the part is not contacted by coupling fluid during testing.

Abstract: A measuring system for measuring a physical quantity related to one of an electromagnetic wave and a magnetic field includes a vibration-type actuator, a waveform generating unit configured to generate a driving waveform signal of the vibration-type actuator, an optical transmitter unit configured to receive the driving waveform signal and convert the driving waveform signal into an optical signal, an optical receiver unit configured to receive the optical signal and convert the optical signal into an alternating-current voltage signal, and a drive circuit configured to receive the alternating-current voltage signal and apply the alternating-current voltage signal to the vibration-type actuator. The waveform generating unit and the optical transmitter unit are disposed outside a magnetic shield room.

Abstract: A method for validating a workpiece measurement in a hand-held spatial dimension measurement metrology tool comprises vibrating a portion of the metrology hand tool using the vibration excitation element; sensing a vibration signature using the vibration sensor configuration; identifying a valid contact state between the metrology hand tool and the workpiece based on a vibration signature criterion; identifying a valid seating state based on a measurement stability criterion applied to a set of dimensional measurements of the metrology hand tool; and indicating that a dimensional measurement is valid for a dimensional measurement that is obtained when the valid contact state and the valid seating state occur simultaneously.

Abstract: An active ultrasonic room occupancy sensor with the output amplitude of the transmitter controlled by the amplitude of power applied to the transmitter to control the zone of coverage for a sensor. An adjustable voltage regulator under control of a microcontroller applies controlled amplitude voltage to the transmitter to adjust the output amplitude of the transmitter. The adjustable amplitude transmitter allows an occupancy sensor to have its total output energy adjusted to conform to the area to be covered. Lowering the total ultrasonic energy in the monitored space lowers the sensitivity of the receiver to inappropriate activations. Lowering the input power to the transmitter also lowers the total internal system noise and provides an improved signal to noise ratio in the receiver. Alternatively, the power applied to the receiver may also be controlled by an adjustable voltage regulator under control of the microcontroller to improve receiver efficiency.