Abstract: A system includes at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer. The at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer is configured to be disposed on a structure and to detect at least one shear horizontal-type acoustic emission from damage to the structure. The controller includes a machine-readable storage medium and a processor in signal communication with the machine-readable storage medium. The processor is configured to store acoustic emission signal data in the machine-readable storage medium when a signal amplitude detected by the at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer crosses a first threshold.

Abstract: A system includes at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer. The at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer is configured to be disposed on a structure and to detect at least one shear horizontal-type acoustic emission from damage to the structure. The controller includes a machine-readable storage medium and a processor in signal communication with the machine-readable storage medium. The processor is configured to store acoustic emission signal data in the machine-readable storage medium when a signal amplitude detected by the at least one circumferentially-polarized d15 shear ring transducer crosses a first threshold.

Abstract: A system for the non-destructive inspection of a structure includes a probe including a hollow cylindrical waveguide having a first region and a second region. The first region has a first diameter and the second region has a second diameter. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The first diameter is sized and configured for insertion into a structure. The system further includes at least one of sensor element capable of generating and detecting longitudinal and/or torsional ultrasonic guided waves in the waveguide. The at least one sensor element is configured to generate a guided wave pulse in the waveguide when a time-varying current is provided to the at least one sensor element. The at least one sensor element is configured to deflect reflected guided wave energy from one or more anomalies in the structure.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic guided wave defect detection in a structure is disclosed. The method includes driving a plurality of transducers to cause guided waves to be transmitted in the structure in a predetermined direction or focused at a predetermined focal point, receiving at least one reflected guided wave signal, and generating image data of the structure based on the at least one reflected guided wave signal. Processed image data are generated by performing at least one of baseline image subtraction or image suppression on the image data, and a location of at least one possible defect in the structure is identified based on the processed image data.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonic guided wave defect detection in a structure is disclosed. The method includes driving a plurality of transducers to cause guided waves to be transmitted in the structure in a predetermined direction or focused at a predetermined focal point, receiving at least one reflected guided wave signal, and generating image data of the structure based on the at least one reflected guided wave signal. Processed image data are generated by performing at least one of baseline image subtraction or image suppression on the image data, and a location of at least one possible defect in the structure is identified based on the processed image data.

Abstract: A system for defect detection in plate like structures is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of transducers configured to be coupled to a periphery of complex-plate structure. A controller is electrically coupled to the plurality of transducers. The controller includes a machine readable storage medium and a processor in signal communication with the machine readable storage medium. The processor is configured to generate a plurality of guided wave signals using a first set of the plurality of transducers, receive the plurality of guided wave signals at a second set of the plurality of transducers, and generate tomographic pseudo-image of structural changes of the complex-plate structure based on the plurality of guided wave signals received at the second set of the plurality of transducers.