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U.S. Department of Energy
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Ultrasonic sensing of GMAW: Laser/EMAT defect detection system

Conference ·
OSTI ID:10164944
; ;  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
  2. National Inst. of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO (United States)

In-process ultrasonic sensing of welding allows detection of weld defects in real time. A noncontacting ultrasonic system is being developed to operate in a production environment. The principal components are a pulsed laser for ultrasound generation and an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for ultrasound reception. A PC-based data acquisition system determines the quality of the weld on a pass-by-pass basis. The laser/EMAT system interrogates the area in the weld volume where defects are most likely to occur. This area of interest is identified by computer calculations on a pass-by-pass basis using weld planning information provided by the off-line programmer. The absence of a signal above the threshold level in the computer-calculated time interval indicates a disruption of the sound path by a defect. The ultrasonic sensor system then provides an input signal to the weld controller about the defect condition. 8 refs.

Research Organization:
EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Department of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
10164944
Report Number(s):
EGG-M--92287; CONF-9206173--8; ON: DE92017916
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English