Development of a three-dimensional ultrasonic testing system using computer graphics
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kobe (Japan)
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Akashi (Japan)
- Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc., Nagoya (Japan)
A three-dimensional ultrasonic testing system that uses computer graphics technology has been developed to detect and estimate defects in complex structures which have the curved surfaces and non-uniform thickness. This developed system enables one to scan the structure over its curved surface by a hand operated probe instrumented by three light-emitting diodes, LEDs. The position and posture of the probe, the direction of ultrasonic beam propagation, can be calculated by measuring the LED position with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) cameras. Accordingly, the results of calculations are displayed realtime on a 3-D graphic workstation monitor. Moreover, this image is superimposed on the previously prepared geometry of structure in the workstation. Consequently, by determining the direction of the propagating ultrasonic beam and the position of reflecting points one can easily distinguish it real-time whether the echo comes from defect inner surface. The performance of developed system is examined by using a Y-joint mockup that includes seven hemielliptical artificial flaws simulating fatigue crack. When it is compared with the earlier CAD system developed by the authors, the efficiency of the inspection result is improved drastically. In addition to detecting all the artificially introduced flaws, one can also measure the dimensions from the original size to twice as much.
- OSTI ID:
- 86126
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9505104--; ISBN 0-87170-548-6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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