Acoustography: It could be a practical ultrasonic NDE tool for composites

摘要

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 AC) 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 SB1R project to develop acoustography as an efficient and economical alternative to conventional point-by-point ultrasonic scanning (e.g. A-scan, C-scan).