Portable microwave instrument for non-destructive evaluation of structural characteristics

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 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: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• 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

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