Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for TFM post-processing of a FMC or HMC matrix acquired with an ultrasonic array probe. Post-processing is performed by calculating TFM beam forming amplitudes using round-trip delays to a focal point lying at depth d on a line at angle ? within the test object. Based on the beam forming amplitudes over a range of values of d within the imaging volume, a calculated A-scan is derived, which is equivalent to the response A-scan produced in conventional phased array imaging, but has the advantage of being focused at all points along the line. By post-calculation of calculated A-scans over a range of angles ? within the imaging volume, an imaging method is derived which is readily adapted to existing codes based on conventional A-scan imaging.

Abstract: An acoustic technique can be used for performing non-destructive testing. For example, a method for acoustic evaluation of a target can include generating respective acoustic transmission events via selected transmitting ones of a plurality of electroacoustic transducers, and in response to the respective acoustic transmission events, receiving respective acoustic echo signals using other receiving ones of the plurality of electroacoustic transducers, and coherently summing representations of the respective received acoustic echo signals to generate a pixel or voxel value corresponding to a specified spatial location of the target. Such summation can include weighting contributions from the respective representations to suppress contributions from acoustic propagation paths outside a specified angular range with respect to a surface on or within the target, such as to provide an acoustic path-filtered total focusing method (PF-TFM).

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and a computer program product for acquiring phased array ultrasonic testing data leveraging a sliding receiver aperture defined according to a principle of acoustic reciprocity. The method includes triggering each of a set of ultrasonic probe elements to pulse as a pulser element. For each pulser element, a respective subset of the ultrasonic probe elements may be defined as the sliding receiver aperture according to a principle of acoustic reciprocity to act as receiver elements to receive response signals. Data corresponding to the respective response signals for each pair of pulser element and receiver element then may be stored.

Abstract: Disclosed is a phased array ultrasound total focusing method in which the ultrasound energy is transmitted as plane waves and the response signals are processed as plane waves. The processing is adaptively corrected to account for geometric variations in the probes and the part being inspected. Methods are disclosed for measuring the geometric variations of the probes and the part.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for compensating the sensitivity variations induced by lift-off variations for an eddy current array probe. The invention uses the eddy current array probe coils in two separate ways to produce a first set of detection channels and a second set of lift-off measurement channels without the need to add coils dedicated to the lift-off measurement operation. Another aspect of the invention provides an improved calibration process which combines the detection and lift-off measurement channel calibration on a simple calibration block including a reference defect without the need of a pre-defined lift-off condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for generating virtual inspection channels mid-way between the physical inspection channels of an eddy current array probe, thereby reducing the coverage loss and improving defect sizing and imaging. The method is based upon a calibration to determine the mid-channel coverage loss for parallel defects having their long axis parallel to the scanning direction. Based on the coverage loss measurement, a vector analysis system is constructed enabling generation of virtual channel signals which are available for processing in the same way as physical channels, with impedance plane representation including real and/or imaginary signal components. The system differentiates between parallel and perpendicular defects and employs different algorithms to generate virtual channel signals for parallel and perpendicular defect orientations.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for conducting an ultrasonic-based inspection. The systems and methods perform operations comprising: receiving a plurality of scan plan parameters associated with generating an image of at least one flaw within a specimen based on acoustic echo data obtained using full matrix capture (FMC); applying the plurality of scan plan parameters to an acoustic model, the acoustic model configured to determine a two-way pressure response of a plurality of inspection modes based on specular reflection and diffraction phenomena; generating, by the acoustic model based on the plurality of scan plan parameters, an acoustic region of influence (AROI) comprising an acoustic amplitude sensitivity map for a first inspection mode amongst the plurality of inspection modes; and generating, for display, a first image comprising the AROI associated with the first inspection mode for capturing or inspecting the image of the at least one flaw.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of determining the test surface profile and compensating the gain amplitude when using time reversal focal laws in ultrasound non-destructive testing. Computer simulations are used to compute the diffraction field at time of incidence of the transmitted parallel wave front on the test surface. Knowledge of the surface profile and the diffraction field allows determination of coverage at the test surface and improved accuracy of flaw sizing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a calibration system and method for a phased array ultrasound pipe inspection system, in which reliable calibration is obtained for notches at all angles using only a small number of notches for the calibration. The method comprises a one-time normalization step and a system calibration step which may be performed at regular intervals. Ultrasound transmission is in a single diverging beam for each aperture, while reception is selective for multiple well-defined reception angles. During the normalization step, plots of maximum response vs reception angle are plotted for each notch, and a normalization curve is constructed by fitting the maxima of these plots. The normalization curve is used to derive calibration targets at specific reception angles for specific calibration notches, which are then used for the system calibrations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beam overlap verification system and method for phased array ultrasonic inspection. A scan plan for the ultrasonic inspection defines a suitable probe, wedge and calibration block having machined defects for the geometry to be inspected, and makes a beam definition which defines a set of ultrasonic beams emitted by the phased array. An intersection amplitude unit records the response amplitudes from each defect at predetermined intersection points of adjacent beam pairs as the probe and wedge are manually scanned across the calibration block. An overlap verification module determines the ?6 dB overlap of all adjacent beam pairs which are relevant to the geometry to be inspected, and verifies that the beam overlap conforms to the required coverage according to the ASME or other relevant codes. In this way, coverage is experimentally verified during calibration prior to inspection of a known geometry, such as a weld.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic non-destructive testing and inspection system and method for determining acoustic velocities in a test object. Beams of acoustic energy from firing an element of an emitting probe propagate in a first wedge, and a beam incident at the critical angle generates a surface wave in the test object. The surface wave propagates to a second wedge and signals are received at receiving elements of a receiving probe array. When a set of appropriate delays is applied to the receiving elements, the acoustic time-of-flight is the same to all receiving elements. Determination of the appropriate delays and the times-of-flight for P-type surface waves and Rayleigh surface waves enables computation of the P- and S-wave acoustic velocities in the test object. The time-of-flight measurement also enables computation of the separation between the first and second wedges.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inspection device and method of guiding an inspection probe according to a predetermined inspection plan. The device is couple with a probe which is to be moved according to the inspection plan on the test object, the device including an inspection guide unit having a guide control unit, a position encoding such as a 3-D camera and visual feedback eyewear. The method including facilitating a virtual display of the inspection plan onto the visual feedback eyewear, moving the probe following the virtual display of the inspection plan, sensing sensed probe positions in real time of the inspection using the 3-D camera and validating the sensed probe position against the inspection plan using the control module. Then the information of the step of validating, such as those spots at which the probe is moved out of the tolerance of the inspection plan, is displayed on the feedback eyewear.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of determining the test surface profile and compensating the gain amplitude when using time reversal focal laws in ultrasound non-destructive testing. Computer simulations are used to compute the diffraction field at time of incidence of the transmitted parallel wave front on the test surface. Knowledge of the surface profile and the diffraction field allows determination of coverage at the test surface and improved accuracy of flaw sizing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a calibration method and system for non-destructive testing and inspection (NDT/NDI). The method and system involve establishment of a reference database by conducting FMC acquisition on a first calibration block having standardly known indications with a first series of depths and under a laboratory standard calibration condition. Then phased-array operation is conducted on a second calibration block, which is substantially the same as the first block, having indications with a series of corresponding user measured depths and under a second calibration condition as close to the laboratory condition as possible. The calibration is then made with the gain compensation calculated based on the response signals from the indications of the second block, the first series of gain data from the reference database, and the user measured depths for the corresponding indications under the second calibration condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic non-destructive testing and inspection system and method for determining acoustic velocities in a test object. Beams of acoustic energy from firing an element of an emitting probe propagate in a first wedge, and a beam incident at the critical angle generates a surface wave in the test object. The surface wave propagates to a second wedge and signals are received at receiving elements of a receiving probe array. When a set of appropriate delays is applied to the receiving elements, the acoustic time-of-flight is the same to all receiving elements. Determination of the appropriate delays and the times-of-flight for P-type surface waves and Rayleigh surface waves enables computation of the P- and S-wave acoustic velocities in the test object. The time-of-flight measurement also enables computation of the separation between the first and second wedges.

Abstract: Disclosed is a beam overlap verification system and method for phased array ultrasonic inspection. A scan plan for the ultrasonic inspection defines a suitable probe, wedge and calibration block having machined defects for the geometry to be inspected, and makes a beam definition which defines a set of ultrasonic beams emitted by the phased array. An intersection amplitude unit records the response amplitudes from each defect at predetermined intersection points of adjacent beam pairs as the probe and wedge are manually scanned across the calibration block. An overlap verification module determines the ?6 dB overlap of all adjacent beam pairs which are relevant to the geometry to be inspected, and verifies that the beam overlap conforms to the required coverage according to the ASME or other relevant codes. In this way, coverage is experimentally verified during calibration prior to inspection of a known geometry, such as a weld.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for generating virtual inspection channels mid-way between the physical inspection channels of an eddy current array probe, thereby reducing the coverage loss and improving defect sizing and imaging. The method is based upon a calibration to determine the mid-channel coverage loss for parallel defects having their long axis parallel to the scanning direction. Based on the coverage loss measurement, a vector analysis system is constructed enabling generation of virtual channel signals which are available for processing in the same way as physical channels, with impedance plane representation including real and/or imaginary signal components. The system differentiates between parallel and perpendicular defects and employs different algorithms to generate virtual channel signals for parallel and perpendicular defect orientations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for TFM post-processing of a FMC or HMC matrix acquired with an ultrasonic array probe. Post-processing is performed by calculating TFM beam forming amplitudes using round-trip delays to a focal point lying at depth d on a line at angle ? within the test object. Based on the beam forming amplitudes over a range of values of d within the imaging volume, a calculated A-scan is derived, which is equivalent to the response A-scan produced in conventional phased array imaging, but has the advantage of being focused at all points along the line. By post-calculation of calculated A-scans over a range of angles ? within the imaging volume, an imaging method is derived which is readily adapted to existing codes based on conventional A-scan imaging.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for compensating the sensitivity variations induced by lift-off variations for an eddy current array probe. The invention uses the eddy current array probe coils in two separate ways to produce a first set of detection channels and a second set of lift-off measurement channels without the need to add coils dedicated to the lift-off measurement operation. Another aspect of the invention provides an improved calibration process which combines the detection and lift-off measurement channel calibration on a simple calibration block including a reference defect without the need of a pre-defined lift-off condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assisted analysis unit for facilitating phased array defect inspection. The analysis unit comprises an identification & merging module, and a sizing module. The modules are capable of displaying defect contours from multiple groups of indications, and of recommending defect merging candidates and defect sizing methods. However both modules also accept user input so that the final decisions rest with the operator.