An improved automated ultrasonic NDE system by wavelet and neuron networks

Despite of the widespread and increasing use of digitized signals, the ultrasonic testing community has not realized yet the full potential of the electronic processing. The performance of an ultrasonic flaw detection method is evaluated by the success of distinguishing the flaw echoes from those scattered by microstructures. So, de-noising of ultrasonic signals is extremely important as to correctly identify smaller defects, because the probability of detection usually decreases as the defect size decreases, while the probability of false call does increase. In this paper, the wavelet transform has been successfully experimented to suppress noise and to enhance flaw location from ultrasonic signal, with a good defect localization. The obtained result is then directed to an automatic Artificial Neuronal Networks classification and learning algorithm of defects from A-scan data. Since there is some uncertainty connected with the testing technique, the system needs a numerical modelling. So, knowing the technical characteristics of the transducer, we can preview which are the defects that experimental inspection should find. Indeed, the system performs simulation of the ultrasonic wave propagation in the material, and gives a very helpful tool to get information and physical phenomena understanding, which can help to a suitable prediction of the service life of the component. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.