New Probe Technology, Curved Coupling Surfaces

Abstract

Focusing or defocusing effects occur when ultrasonic probes are coupled to curved surfaces. The new probe technology ensures clearly defined rotationally symmetric sound fields if the coupling surface can be described mathematically and the new probe technology is applied to derive the shape of the transducer. This is not only valid for single angle beam probes but as well for phased array angle beam probes. Even for very complex coupling surfaces such a probe can be designed. An example is given using a railway solid axle. The restriction in the EN ISO 16811:2012 for the use of the DGS method having curved coupling surfaces can be neglected when probes are applied according to the introduced technology.