Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Energy, Inc.

Siemens Power Generation, Inc.

Wayne State University

Max Rothenfusser

Christian Homma

Robert E Shannon

Paul John Zombo

Matthias Goldammer

Joachim W Baumann

Hubert Mooshofer

Lukasz Adam Bienkowski

Robert L Thomas

Lawrence D Favro

Michael Stockmann

Xiaoyan Han

Wolfgang Heine

Paul D Vona

Johannes L Vrana

Mattias Broddegaard

An inductor for induction thermography may be designed, in at least one section, as a rectangularly wound conductor that includes a closed conductor loop which, except for a conductor forming the conductor loop, is free from electrical components.

Inductor

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

A surface of an object is irradiated using an infrared light beam. The infrared light beams reflected at the object are received by an infrared camera which captures a first intensity of the reflected infrared light beams on a detector of the infrared camera. Ambient radiation reflected at the object and the characteristic radiation of the object are detected by capturing a second intensity of the reflected ambient radiation and the characteristic radiation of the object on the detector of the infrared camera. The emissivity of the object is calculated based on the first intensity and the second intensity.

Method and system for emissivity determination

Automated inspection system and method are provided for nondestructive inspection and evaluation of an electrically-conductive workpiece based on induction thermography. A movable carriage () may be arranged to translate the workpiece in an inspection location (). An induction coilis disposed at the inspection location. The induction coil is responsive to an excitation current to induce a flow of electrical current in a region of interest of the workpiece. A thermographic camera () is disposed at the inspection location. The thermographic camera is arranged to capture data indicative of a thermal response resulting from the flow of electrical current. A computer system () is configured to process the data from the thermographic camera to generate an indication of a presence of a discontinuity (e.g., a subsurface crack) in the workpiece.

Automated inspection system and method for nondestructive inspection of a workpiece using induction thermography

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.

Method for calibrating and enhancing flaw detection of an acoustic thermography system

A defect detection system for thermally imaging a structure that has been energized by a sound energy. The system includes a transducer that couples a sound signal into the structure, where the sound signal causes defects in the structure to heat up. In one embodiment, the sound signal has one or more frequencies that are at or near an eigen-mode of the structure.

System and method for multiple mode flexible excitation in sonic infrared imaging

A defect detection system for thermally imaging a structure that has been energized by a sound energy. The system includes a transducer that couples a sound signal into the structure, where the sound signal causes defects in the structure to heat up. In one embodiment, a non-linear coupling material is positioned between the transducer and the structure to couple the sound energy from the transducer to the structure. A predetermined force is applied to the transducer and a pulse duration and a pulse frequency of the sound signal are selected so that the sound energy induces acoustic chaos in the structure, thus generating increased thermal energy. A thermal imaging camera images the structure when it is heated by the sound signal.

Growing community of inventors

Munich, Germany

Max Rothenfusser