Laser-air, hybrid, ultrasonic testing of railroad tracks

US6945114B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Shant Kenderian · Baltimore, US
• B. Boro Djordjevic · Severna Park, US
• Robert E. Green · Harrisburg, US
• Donatella Cerniglia · Palermo, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: May 30, 2003
• Grant date: Sep 20, 2005
• Expiry date: May 30, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/2623
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Formed Laser Sources (FLS) using pulsed laser light for generation of ultrasonic stress waves are combined with air-coupled detection of ultrasound to provide for the hybrid non-contact, dynamic and remote ultrasonic testing of structural materials, especially railroad tracks. Using this hybrid technique, multimode and controlled frequency and wavefront surface acoustic waves, plate waves, guided waves, and bulk waves are generated to propagate on and within the rail tracks. The non-contact, remote nature of this methodology enables high-speed, fill access inspections of rail tracks. The flexibility and remote nature of this methodology makes possible the detection of critical cracks that are not easy, or impossible to detect, with current inspection techniques available to the railroad industry.