Government of the United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of Commerce

Kevin Coakley

George A Alers

Alfred V Clark

Christopher Hehman

Thanh Nguyen

A method and apparatus for measurement of stress in a specimen utilizing a motorized electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). Stress causes a rotation of the pure-mode polarization directions of SH-waves and a change in the phase of waves polarized along these certain directions. The method utilizes a rotating small-aperture EMAT, connected to a processor, to measure phase and amplitude data as a function of angle. The EMAT is placed on a workpiece at the location where the stress is to be measured. The acoustic birefringence B is determined from the normalized difference of these phases. From these data, an algorithm calculates values of B and &PHgr;. The workpiece is then stressed or its stress state is changed. The values are measured again at the same location. Stress is determined from the change in B and &PHgr;.

Ultrasonic strain gage using a motorized electromagnetic acoustic transducer

A method for measurement of stress in a specimen utilizing a motorized electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). Stress causes a rotation of the pure-mode polarization directions of SH-waves and a change in the phase of waves polarized along these certain directions. The method utilizes a rotating small-aperture EMAT, connected to a processor, to measure phase and amplitude data as a function of angle. The EMAT is placed on a workpiece at the location where the stress is to be measured. The acoustic birefringence B is determined from the normalized difference of these phases. From these data, an algorithm calculates values of B. and &phgr;. The workpiece is then stressed or its stress state is changed. The values are measured again at the same location. Stress is determined from the change in B and &phgr;.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Kevin Coakley