Search results for "Phased array"
showing 10 items of 31 documents
Microwave phase shifter based on fibre Bragg grating
1998
A variable delay line is presented for phased array antennas based on a fibre Bragg grating which has a uniform period and operates at constant optical wavelength. The Bragg wavelength of a localised part of the fibre grating is modified by straining the fibre, the optical carrier is reflected by the strained part of the grating and the time delay of the microwave modulating signal is determined by the position where the strain has been applied. In this initial experiment time delay variations up to 330 ps in the frequency range 1 – 14 GHz have been achieved.
First lamina hybridization of high performance CFRP with Kevlar fibers: Effect on impact behavior and nondestructive evaluation
2022
The impact behavior of a carbon-Kevlar hybrid composite, widely used in sport car manufacturing, was evaluated. To highlight the hybridization effect, comparative analyses were performed with the basic CFRP laminate having the same lay-up. Tensile, bending and low velocity impact tests, followed by nondestructive inspections, highlighted that Kevlar first lamina hybridization leads to an increment in specific impact strength, up to 55%. To assess the most reliable technique to detect the impact damage, nondestructive evaluation was performed by pulsed thermography, phased array ultrasonic technique, computed tomography and digital radiography. Phased array ultrasonic technique can be consid…
Investigating the effect of residual stress on hydrogen cracking in multi-pass robotic welding through process compatible non-destructive testing
2021
Abstract In this paper, the effect of Welding Residual Stress (WRS) on the size and morphology of hydrogen-induced cracks (HIC) is studied. Four samples were manufactured using a 6-axis welding robot and in two separate batches. The difference between the two batches was the clamping system used, which resulted in different amounts of welding deformation and WRS. The hydrogen cracks were intentionally manufactured in the samples using a localised water-quenching method, where water was sprayed over a specific weld pass in a predetermined position. The Phased-Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) system was implemented during the welding process (high-temperature in-process method), to detect the …
Electronic tuning of delay lines based on chirped fiber gratings for phased arrays powered by a single optical carrier
2004
We propose a variable delay line for phased arrays antennas based on a chirped fiber grating. The line operates with an optical carrier at constant wavelength and the time delay of the radiofrequency modulating signal is modified stretching the grating with a piezoelectric translator, the grating response can be tuned at a speed of 0.68 nm/ms.
Variable delay line for phased-array antenna based on a chirped fiber grating
2000
We present a theoretical and experimental analysis of the performance of phased-array antennas steered by a single chirped fiber grating. Two approaches consisting of conventional and single-sideband (SSB) modulation techniques of the optical signal are presented in order to compare their performance and suitability for beamforming applications in microwave antennas. By using a 40-cm-long chirped grating, we measure the phase and amplitude response and calculate the corresponding radiation patterns to demonstrate wide-band operation and continuous spatial scanning properties of both configurations. SSB modulation Is presented as a real alternative to the first one offering broader operation…
Introducing a new method for efficient visualization of complex shape 3D ultrasonic phased-array C-scans
2017
Automated robotic inspection systems allow the collection of large data volumes, compared to existing inspection systems. To maximize the throughput associated with the non-destructive evaluation phase, it is crucial that the reconstructed inspection data sets are generated and examined rapidly without a loss of detail. Data analysis often becomes the bottleneck of automated inspections. Therefore, new data visualization tools, suitable to screen the NDT information obtained through robotic systems, are urgently required. This paper presents a new approach, for the generation of three-dimensional ultrasonic C-scans of large and complex parts, suitable for application to high data throughput…
Model-assisted ultrasonic calibration using intentionally embedded defects for in-process weld inspection
2021
Abstract Automated in-process Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) systems are rapidly gaining traction within the manufacturing industry as they reduce manufacturing time and costs. When considering calibration and verification of such systems, creating defects of known geometry and nature during the deposition of a weld can: (I) help examine the capability of the automated system to detect and characterise defects, (II) be used to form a database of signals associated with different defect types to train intelligent defect classification algorithms, and (III) act as a basis for in-process gain calibration during weld inspection at high temperatures, where the ultrasound beam can be skewed as a r…
Continuous monitoring of an intentionally-manufactured crack using an automated welding and in-process inspection system
2020
Abstract Automated weld deposition coupled with the real-time robotic Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) is used in this paper. For performance verification of the in-process inspection system, an intentionally embedded defect, a tungsten rod, is introduced into the multi-pass weld. A partially-filled groove (staircase) sample is also manufactured and ultrasonically tested to calibrate the real-time inspection implemented on all seven layers of the weld which are deposited progressively. The tungsten rod is successfully detected in the real-time NDE of the deposited position. The same robotic inspection system was then used to continuously monitor an intentionally-manufactured crack for 20 h.…
Ultrasonic phased array inspection of wire plus arc additive manufacture (WAAM) samples using conventional and total focusing method (TFM) imaging…
2018
In this study, three aluminium samples produced by wire + arc additive manufacture (WAAM) are inspected using ultrasonic phased array technology. Artificial defects are machined using a centre drill, ø3 mm, and electro-discharge machining (EDM), ø0.5-1 mm, in a cylindrical through hole topology. The sample was first inspected by a single element wheel probe mounted on a KUKA robot in order to investigate the feasibility of using a conventional ultrasonic transducer approach. Unfortunately, the wheel probe was found to be unsuitable for scanning of the WAAM specimens and ultrasonic phased arrays were employed next. The setup included 5 MHz and 10 MHz arrays (128 elements) in direct contact w…
Influence of seamless pipes wall thickness variation for the effectiveness of Automated Ultrasonic Testing
2015
Offshore pipelines construction is a technological challenge. Increasing water depth, harsh environments, engineering and commercial constraints are just some of the existing issues. Material selection therefore plays a key role and, for several applications, seamless pipes offer both the best technical and commercial compromise. Typically, NDT inspection of girth welds is carried out using the phased array based automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) zonal discrimination approach. AUT, compared to other techniques, guarantees a higher probability of detection of flaws and it also allows a really accurate assessment of the indications. However, since one of the peculiarities of this technique i…