Ultrasonic device and method for non-destructive evaluation of polymer composites

Patent 5408882 Issued on April 25, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date:

July 21, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3720098

Method and apparatus for analyzing material properties using reflected ultrasound
Patent #: 5038787
Issued on: 08/13/1991
Inventor: Antich, et al.

Semi-automatic system for ultrasonic measurement of texture
Patent #: 5048340
Issued on: 09/17/1991
Inventor: Thompson, et al.

System for nondestructively determining composite material parameters Patent #: 5127268
Issued on: 07/07/1992
Inventor: Kline

Inventors

Application

No. 095638 filed on 07/21/1993

US Classes:

73/597, Velocity or propagation time measurement73/602, With signal analyzing or mathematical processing73/642, Having wave shaping means73/644Having significant coupling means

Examiners

Primary: Noland, Tom
Assistant: Ashraf, Nashmiya

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Goldman; David C., Webb, II; Paul R.

International Class

G01N 029/18

Abstract

An ultrasonic measurement device and a method for a non-destructive evaluation of polymer composites having discontinuous fibers distributed therein. The device has one or a plurality of substantially matched pairs of transducers disposed on wedge shaped focuser and a relay, the focuser and relay each have their impedances substantially matched to that of the polymer composite being analyzed. The device is placed on a surface of the composite with the apexes of the focuser and relay in close contact with the surface. A velocity of a substantially longitudinal ultrasonic wave generated by the first transducer and received by the second transducer after its passage through the composite is determined at several angles of orientations about a center point, and the measured velocities of the ultrasonic wave are processed through a computer having software to determine the physical attributes of the composite, such as weight percentage of fibers present in the composite, Young's modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio of the composite.