Ultrasonic NDE system: the hardware concept

Increasing number of ultrasonic applications reflects the potential of this method. As broader is the range of areas involved in ultrasonic measurement, the more essential becomes the question of a universal concept of the equipment for generating and acquiring the ultrasonic data. Ideas and problems met here we would like to share in this publication. The ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation system basic equipment used for ultrasonic data extraction is shown in Fig. 1. The ultrasonic transducer is excited by on electrical pulse and transmits the ultrasonic pulse to the media under investigation. The ultrasonic pulse travels in the material and is reflected, refracted, scattered or transmitted through its inhomogenities. The affected signal is picked up by the same transducer (transceiver mode) or the separate transducer and is converted to the electrical signal. This signal then is amplified, filtered and converted in to the digital form. If necessary, the signal is stored on a disk. The digital signal pre-processing (averaging, smoothing), post-processing or just real time presentation on screen is performed as A-scan, B-scan or other appropriate image. The transducer can be positioned on the material in any position on the material surface or in water if the immerse scanning is used.