Non-destructive method for determining elastic moduli of material

US5115673A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US
• The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma · US

Inventors

• Ronald A. Kline · Norman, US
• Eric I. Madaras · Yorktown, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 20, 1990
• Grant date: May 26, 1992
• Expiry date: Jul 20, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/0428
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A non-destructive method for determining elastic moduli of isotropic or anisotropic or homogeneous or nonhomogeneous material. The material is subjected to x-radiation for determining the density of the material at a sufficient number of discrete measurement points over the material to create an image of local material density variation. Ultrasonic waves are propagated through the material to determine transit times for each wave at points corresponding to the measurement points. Using the determined density and transit times for each of the measurement points, the elastic moduli at each measurement point is determined. The elastic moduli provides a means for analyzing the mechanical performance of the material. In one aspect, the determined elastic moduli are inputted into a finite element method code for determining mechanical response of the material.