SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE

	The ultrasonic data obtained are shown for an undamaged bolt and bolts with 5- and 50-percent symmetric corrosion, respectively. Based on the time difference between the backwall signal (seen in all three oscilloscope traces at about 7.5 major screen divisions) and the multiple signals all with the same time separation (seen only in the lower oscilloscope trace), the remaining diameter can be calculated.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is an international leader in developing and applying nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technology for clients in industry and government. SwRI engineers employ various inspection methods such as:

• Cylindrically guided waves

• Magnetostrictive sensors

Ultrasonics Projects

Successful ultrasonic NDE projects have focused on applications including:

• Government infrastructure

• Utility infrastructure

• Pipelines

• Nuclear power plants

• Military aircraft components

Ultrasonics Capabilities and Past Projects

Selected ultrasonics capabilities and projects include:

• Cylindrically guided wave techniques (CGWT)

• Evaluation of CGWT for corrosion detection in all-thread bolts

• NDE methods for detecting high-cycle fatigue

• Enhanced data acquisition system (EDAS^®)

• Enhanced data acquisition system (EDAS^®-IV)

• Reactor pressure vessel inservice inspection system

• Autogrid system for ultrasonic inspection

For more information about nondestructive evaluation (NDE) capabilities and ultrasonics technology at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Glenn Light, Ph.D., at glight@swri.org or (210) 522-2218.

| Sensor Systems and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technology Department | Mechanical Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions.

April 28, 2009