Portable microwave instrument for non-destructive evaluation of structural characteristics

Patent · 01 January 1995

OSTI ID:869721

Bible, Don W ^[1]; Crutcher, Richard I ^[2]; Sohns, Carl W ^[3]; Maddox, Stephen R ^[4]

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1. Clinton, TN
2. Knoxville, TN
3. Oak Ridge, TN
4. Loudon, TN

A portable microwave instrument for evaluating characteristics of a structural member includes a source of microwave energy, a transmitter coupled to the source of microwave energy for transmitting a microwave signal at the structural member, and a receiver positioned on the same side of the structural member as the transmitter and being disposed to receive a microwave signal reflected by the structural member. A phase angle difference is determined between the transmitted microwave signal and the received microwave signal using a signal splitter and a balanced mixer. The difference in phase angle varies in accordance with differences in size, shape and locations of constituent materials within the structural member.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5384543
• OSTI ID: 869721
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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accordance
angle
balanced
characteristics
constituent
constituent material
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difference
differences
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energy
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locations
materials
microwave
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mixer
non-destructive
non-destructive evaluation
phase
phase angle
portable
portable microwave
positioned
receive
received
receiver
receiver positioned
reflected
shape
signal
size
source
splitter
structural
structural characteristics
transmitted
transmitter
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varies
wave energy
wave signal