Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

Christian Homma

Max Rothenfusser

Matthias Goldammer

Robert E Shannon

Paul John Zombo

Lukasz Adam Bienkowski

Joachim W Baumann

Hubert Mooshofer

Paul D Vona

Mattias Broddegaard

A method for induction thermography includes acquiring a plurality of images or an object at each of a plurality of imaging directions, and deriving a combined Fourier-transformed image from the images taken at different imaging directions to detect defects in the object.

Induction thermography method

In order to support an inspecting person in a method for the manual non-destructive inspection of a test object, a detection device is provided for detecting three-dimensional surface coordinates of a region to be inspected on the test object and for continuously determining positions and speeds of an inspecting tool relative to the test object Discrete position values and speed values of the inspecting tool for the respective measurement time points are stored by a storage device. A computing device determines the share of an already inspected region in relation to the total region of the test object to be inspected. The method and device can be used for manual inspection of test objects having a plurality of different shapes. The inspecting person is effectively relieved and the process for the non-destructive inspection is documented in order to guarantee a complete inspection.

Ensuring inspection coverage for manual inspection

In a method for the optimization of stress distribution on an object to be tested for flaws by ultrasound excitation and evaluation based on resulting surface temperature distribution,&#x2014;a simulation is performed under test conditions on a CAD model of the object prior to a testing an object,&#x2014;vibrational spectra and modal vibrational forms are calculated,&#x2014;local mechanical stresses are determined from the vibrational modes, whereby&#x2014;modes to be excited for the real test are selected from the entirety of the occurring modes such that,&#x2014;the mechanical stress lies in a selected region above a predetermined minimum stress to enable a reliable proof of defect,&#x2014;the mechanical stress in all other regions of the inspection part, in particular on easily damaged component structures, is smaller than a predetermined maximum stress by a predetermined factor, in order not to damage the component at weak points.

Method for the optimization of stress distribution in acoustic thermography applications

A method for processing thermography signals. A time series of radiometric data is measured from a surface () of an object () over a period of heating and subsequent cooling, and a mathematical curve () is fit to the data. An amplitude aspect and one or more shape aspects are identified for each curve. The amplitude and shape aspects are then used together to characterize features such as defects in the object. The amplitude and shape aspects for an array of such data may be combined in a single noise-free visual display () by associating hue (color) with the shape aspect and luminance (brightness) with the amplitude aspect. Optionally, a second shape aspect may be identified and associated with saturation on the display. A visible image of the object may be overlaid on the display.

Advanced processing of active thermography signals

A hand-held thermography system (). A generator () supplies current to a transformer () in a handle (). An induction coil () connected to the transformer () extends from the handle (). The induction coil () induces eddy currents in a test object (), producing a thermal topography on a surface () of the object () that reveals structural features including defects in the object. An infrared camera () mounted on the transformer () digitizes images of the thermal topography. A controller () processes the images, displays them on a monitor (), and stores them in a digital memory () for evaluation. Digitized positional data relating the position of the image to the surface may also be stored. An operator () presses a trigger (), signaling the controller () to start current to the induction coil () and simultaneously to acquire and process one or more images from the camera (). The images may be evaluated visually and/or by computerized analysis techniques for analyzing defects in the object.

Hand held magnetic induction thermography system

A method and apparatus for calibrating an acoustic thermography systemand/or enhancing the flaw detection abilities of such a system is provided. The method allows applying a material (e.g.,) to a specimenundergoing acoustic thermography inspection. The material is thermally responsive to acoustic energy transmitted to the specimen by the acoustic thermography system. In one aspect thereof, a thermal response of the material applied to the specimen when subjected to acoustic energy is processed to determine whether the level of acoustic energy applied by the acoustic thermographic system appropriately meets a desired amount of acoustic energy for inspecting the specimen. In another aspect thereof, the thermal response of the specimen in combination with the applied material may be processed to determine whether certain types of flaws (e.g., relatively wide flaws) are actually present in the specimen or to enhance the detectability of other flaws that would only faintly show up on the infrared images.

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Vaterstetten, Germany

Christian Homma