No abstract

No abstract

Acoustography is a full field, large area ultrasonic imaging method where a novel, wide area acousto-optic (AO) sensor is employed to form ultrasonic images similarly to real-time x-ray imaging. The AO sensor converts ultrasound directly into a visual image due to the inherent acousto-optic property of a proprietary mesophase material contained in the AO sensor. The AO sensor also offers exceptionally high pixel resolution, as a continuous layer of the mesophase material, with sensing molecules on the order of 20 Angstroms in size, senses the ultrasound. This paper will report on progress being made under a SBIR project to develop acoustography as an efficient and economical alternative to conventional point-by-point ultrasonic scanning (e.g. A-scan, C-scan).

The objective of this paper is to provide details on the development of a novel acousto-optic sensor that can be utilized to nondestructively evaluate materials and components in near real-time. The acousto-optic sensor, which is the basis for Acoustography, provides wide-area, near real-time ultrasonic attenuation maps that can be analyzed to detect anomalies such as cracks, delaminations, and porosity. Details on applying Acoustography to inspect complex shaped parts will be provided. Future work in the area of Acoustography will also be presented.

No abstract