Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a flextensional transducer for underwater operation includes a driving element and a stave. The stave is made from a material with elastic properties and has a porous structure. The porous structure is adapted to be modelled such that when in use, said porous structure of the stave is of an arbitrary alignment with respect to, for instance, the driving element, and has a degree of porosity. The degree of porosity is such that the elastic properties and vibrational frequency response of the stave can be customised with respect to its intended use.

Abstract: An electromagnet can be used to provide a controlled magnetic field, for example for the purpose of minesweeping. The electromagnet is constructed of a material which has a Curie temperature, such that the electromagnet can be stored at a temperature above the Curie temperature, but deployed below the Curie temperature in use.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a test component and a method of testing a test component for non-destructive testing (NDT) together with a method of validating an NDT process for a component manufactured by an additive manufacturing (AM) process are disclosed. The validation method includes the steps of forming a first test specimen by the AM process, the test specimen containing one or more defects of a specified type and size, confirming both by destructive testing and by a first NDT step the type and size of the defects, forming the component by the said AM process with an aperture to receive the test specimen, forming a second test specimen by the same AM process which contains defects of the same type and size, inserting into the aperture the second test specimen, arranging the performance of a second NDT step on the component for defects, and comparing the results of the first and second NDT steps to validate the method.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a flextensional transducer for underwater operation includes a driving element and a stave. The stave is made from a material with elastic properties and has a porous structure. The porous structure is adapted to be modelled such that when in use, said porous structure of the stave is of an arbitrary alignment with respect to, for instance, the driving element, and has a degree of porosity. The degree of porosity is such that the elastic properties and vibrational frequency response of the stave can be customised with respect to its intended use.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection tool has a chassis with a two part body, an aperture for providing a clear line of sight between an array and a workpiece, and a series of feet for sliding along the workpiece.

Abstract: An electromagnet can be used to provide a controlled magnetic field, for example for the purpose of minesweeping. The electromagnet is constructed of a material which has a Curie temperature, such that the electromagnet can be stored at a temperature above the Curie temperature, but deployed below the Curie temperature in use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus wherein complex physical interactions and collisions are modeled at a high level of detail while reducing the computational demands placed on the processing system. In one embodiment the method comprising the steps of defining a first object and a second object, each object adapted for colliding with the other object; assigning an interaction type for at least one of the first and second object in response to an object parameter; and selecting between a continuous simulation of a collision and a discrete simulation of the collision in response to the interaction type.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection probe comprising: a flexible ultrasonic array, a flexible coupling component arranged to ultrasonically couple the flexible ultrasonic array to a workpiece at a coupling boundary surface, a loading component arranged to apply a pressure to the coupling component to a surface opposite the coupling boundary surface to maintain contact between the coupling boundary surface and a workpiece.

Abstract: A method is provided in which radiussed components are scanned by moving the focal point of a curved array into the component, while keeping the geometric focal point of the array coincident with that of the radiussed component.

Abstract: A scanner comprises a scanning array mounted within a rotatable assembly having a first wheel on a first side, a second wheel on a second side and a membrane forming a drum around the array wherein a load path is provided between the wheels to divert load from the membrane such that it can be made thinner.

Abstract: Method for producing an oxidized PAN fiber (OPF) wherein a PAN fiber is subjected to an oxidation process in which reactive oxidizing species are maintained in close enough proximity to the PAN fiber during the oxidation process such that a core of the PAN fiber is converted to a crosslinked thermoset morphology before an oxidized shell of the PAN fiber becomes thick enough to substantially inhibit penetration of the reactive oxidizing species into the core. The resulting OPF possesses a density greater than 1.35 g/cm3 and a substantially homogeneous crosslinked thermoset morphology along a radial dimension of the oxidized PAN fiber. Flame-retarded materials containing the resulting OPF, as well as methods for producing such flame-retarded materials, are also described.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner has an encoder contacting a drum containing an array. The scanning assembly can be replaced via a snap fit formation. The encoder and drum are resiliently biased and movable relative to the chassis. The array can also be movable relative to the chassis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection tool has a chassis with a two part body, an aperture for providing a clear line of sight between an array and a workpiece, and a series of feet for sliding along the workpiece.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner has an encoder contacting a drum containing an array. The scanning assembly can be replaced via a snap fit formation. The encoder and drum are resiliently biased and movable relative to the chassis. The array can also be movable relative to the chassis.

Abstract: An inspection device (300) has an ultrasonic transducer (304) encased in a couplant block (302) mounted in a housing (328). The housing (328) has a pair of encoders (340, 342) mounted thereto. The transducer (304) is mounted to scan perpendicular to the contact surface (306) of the block (302). A coupling block with a PTFE layer on the contact surface is also provided.

Abstract: A scanner comprises a scanning array mounted within a rotatable assembly having a first wheel on a first side, a second wheel on a second side and a membrane forming a drum around the array wherein a load path is provided between the wheels to divert load from the membrane such that it can be made thinner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning a workpiece (100) comprises providing an insert (120) insertable within a countersunk bore (106), the insert (120) being acoustically mounted to the workpiece (100) in order to scan regions below the countersunk area.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: an execution unit; a plurality of addressable devices; and a data transfer engine coupled to the execution unit and to the devices, operable to fetch a plurality of descriptors under control of the execution unit, and based on each of the fetched descriptors to perform a transfer of data from a respective first to a respective second of the devices. The DMA engine comprises delay circuitry operable to block, during a delay period running from an earlier of the transfers, any later of the transfers involving at least one of the same devices as the earlier transfer, the delay circuitry being arranged to control the blocking in dependence on an indication received in one of the descriptors.

Abstract: An ultrasound scanner (100) which has a plurality of ultrasound transducers (104) directed normal to a scanning surface (106) to scan a workpiece (114), the scanner (100) comprising a couplant filled latex rubber sheath (106) shaped to the surface of a workpiece (114).

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection probe comprising: a flexible ultrasonic array, a flexible coupling component arranged to ultrasonically couple the flexible ultrasonic array to a workpiece at a coupling boundary surface, a loading component arranged to apply a pressure to the coupling component to a surface opposite the coupling boundary surface to maintain contact between the coupling boundary surface and a workpiece.