Abstract: A flaw inspection system (10) contains a substrate (12) to be inspected, such as a generator tube wall, a rotor of a generator, an aircraft skin, having or thought to have interior defects (24, 26) such as stress cracks, where the substrate (12) has attached reference blocks (14, 16) also containing defects (18, 20) of the type that might be found in the substrate, where an ultrasonic generator (28) emits sound waves (30) which contact all the defects, causing heat (32) which is sensed by a thermal camera (50) which, in association with a controller (54) causes images (60, 62) to appear on a monitor (52) from which the type and number of defects (24, 26) in the substrate (12) can be determined.

Abstract: A method and system (100) for enhancing the determination of the presence of a surface breaking or subsurface defect with an object (114) under test are provided (FIG. 1). The method can include transferring ultrasonic energy to an object (114) under test and sensing images (514, 514?) of the object (114) under test before and after transferring ultrasonic energy to the object (114) with an infrared thermography camera (112). An increase in temperature gradients in the areas adjacent a defect (516, 516?) is shown in the images (514, 514?) produced by the camera (112), which indicates the presence of the defect (516, 516?). The temperature gradients in the area of the defect (516, 516?) and images of the defect (516, 516?) can be displayed to enable users to determine the temperature gradient and thus the extent of the defect (516, 516?). Digital images (514, 514?) of the before and after transferring ultrasonic energy can be superimposed (514?) to identify and illustrate the defect (516?).

Abstract: A method and system (100) for enhancing the determination of the presence of a surface breaking or subsurface defect with an object (114) under test are provided (FIG. 1). The method, for example, can include transferring ultrasonic energy to an object (114) under test and sensing images (514, 514′) of the object (114) under test before and after transferring ultrasonic energy to the object (114) with an infrared thermography camera (112). An increase in temperature gradients in the areas adjacent a defect (516, 516′) is shown in the images (514, 514′) produced by the camera (112), which indicates the presence of the defect (516, 516′). The temperature gradients in the area of the defect (516, 516′) and images of the defect (516, 516′) can be displayed to enable users to determine the temperature gradient and thus the extent of the defect (516, 516′).

Abstract: A flaw inspection system (10) contains a substrate (12) to be inspected, such as a generator tube wall, a rotor of a generator, an aircraft skin, having or thought to have interior defects (24, 26) such as stress cracks, where the substrate (12) has attached reference blocks (14, 16) also containing defects (18, 20) of the type that might be found in the substrate, where an ultrasonic generator (28) emits sound waves (30) which contact all the defects, causing heat (32) which is sensed by a thermal camera (50) which, in association with a controller (54) causes images (60, 62) to appear on a monitor (52) from which the type and number of defects (24, 26) in the substrate (12) can be determined.