Defect identification and sizing by the ultrasonic satellite-pulse technique

Shape and size are the most important defect characteristics that need to be determined for the reliable prediction of the remaining service lifetime of a defective structure or part. The analytical and supporting experimental results presented in this paper concern a general, pattern recognition-based, ultrasonic defect identification and sizing method. The satellite-pulse technique (SPT) is based on the interpretation, in terms of defect types (shapes) and dimensions, of the separation in time of arrival between the readily detected specularly reflected pulse and its generally ignored tip-diffracted or tangentially scattered “satellite” contained in the received waveform. Calibration procedures were also developed that enable the ultrasonic examiner to read the time scale of the oscilloscope for equivalent crack depth or void diameter as appropriate.