Southwest Research Institute

Alan R Puchot

Adam C Cobb

Glenn M Light

Charles E Duffer

Pavan Kumar Shukla

Erika Christine Laiche

Sang Young Kim

An ultrasonic probe that uses the magnetostrictive effect to generate and detect a surface-coupled guided wave for the purpose of inspecting a thick-walled structure for surface defects. A transmitter sensor and a receiver sensor are especially designed to generate and detect short wavelengths that will couple to only one surface of the plate.

Magnetostrictive probes for surface wave testing of thick walled structures

A method of testing for defects in the bottom of an above ground storage tank, the tank bottom having a lip extending outwardly from the tank wall around the circumference of the tank. A special magnetostrictive sensor is designed to be placed on this lip. The sensor is placed over a strip of magnetostrictive material, which generally conforms in length and width to the bottom of the probe, with a couplant being applied between the strip and the lip surface. The sensor is then operated in pulse echo mode to receive signals from defects in the bottom of the tank. It is incrementally moved around the circumference of the tank.

Magnetostrictive sensor for tank floor inspection

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Alan R Puchot