| Summary: | The detection of surface defects during periodic inspection is important because, usually, the stresses are higher at the surface, thus affecting the growth of the discontinuity. Surface defects can be detected using some traditional non-destructive testing methods, such as eddy current, dye penetrant, magnetic particle and ultrasonic. Some of these methods can be used only in static conditions; the others have limitations for the dynamic inspection.The recent progress in the field of non-contact ultrasonic sensors has led us to develop a simple system for the real-time inspection of moving bodies at a high speed. The paper presents the possibility of using, with the developed system, two methodologies, based on non-contact ultrasound, to detect surface defects on objects moving at 100 km/h, so that in service inspection is possible. A methodology, based on laser and air-coupled sensors, uses the advantages of laser-generated surface waves; the analysis is done on the reflected wave, created by the interaction of the surface wave with the defect. The inspected surface layer can be selected from the wavelength of the surface wave. The other methodology, based on air-coupled sensors, uses the disadvantages of the ultrasound transmission at the air/metal interface; the analysis is done on the diffraction of the wave reflected from the surface. The execution of the inspection is simple with both techniques. The experimental results indicate a good efficiency of the two methodologies proposed for the real-time detection of surface defects on objects moving at high speed.
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