Method and apparatus for three-dimensional visualization and analysis for automatic non-destructive examination of a solid rotor using ultrasonic phased array

US8525831B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE
• SIEMENS ENERGY, INC. · US

Inventors

• Jingdan Zhang · Plainsboro, US
• Moritz Michael Knorr · Hildesheim, DE
• Shaohua Kevin Zhou · Plainsboro, US
• Waheed A. Abbasi · Murrysville, US
• Michael F. Fair · Oakmont, US
• Larry C. Himes · Greensburg, US
• Michael J. Metala · Murrysville, US
• El Mahjoub Rasselkorde · Monroeville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 5, 2010
• Grant date: Sep 3, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 20, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2200/08
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for three-dimensional visualization and analysis for automatic non-destructive examination of a solid Rotor using ultrasonic phased array is disclosed. Data is acquired by scanning a solid rotor with a phased array ultrasound transducer producing a plurality of two dimensional ultrasound scans. Each of a plurality of sample points of a plurality of two dimensional ultrasound scans are associated with a corresponding 3D image point of a regular grid. A kernel function for each of the plurality of sample points defining a size and shape of a kernel located at the corresponding image point is determined. A weight is assigned to each kernel which, in one embodiment, is based on the sample point value. A value for each image point of the regular 3D grid is determined based on kernels overlapping each image point. A three-dimensional volume representing the solid rotor is then visualized.