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Publications & Standards

Read Vibrant’s publications, white papers and ASTM Standards to keep you up-to-date on the latest with PCRT.

Characterizing Polymer O-Rings Nondestructively using Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy

Polymer O-rings are an essential part of many designs, including mission and safety critical systems. Currently, there are no accurate destructive tests for measuring the polymer properties of O-rings (e.g. durometer), let alone nondestructive methods. As such, it is difficult to identify substandard, nonconforming, improperly processed or counterfeit O-rings. This work combines resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) with machine learning and predictive analytics to sort O-rings based on material and durometer (multinomial classification) and to accurately estimate the mass and durometer with an ultrasonic examination that takes less than 10 seconds. Results from a population including eight materials and six durometers are presented and discussed.

Process Compensated Resonance Testing – Whole Body and Surface NDT for Ceramic Balls

Ceramic material advancements have produced many new components to meet the needs of the growing technology requirements. Traditional NDT methods (UT, ET, RT, and PT) often provide incomplete results when used to inspect these components, leading to multiple costly and time consuming inspections. Process Compensated Resonant Testing (PCRT) has been demonstrated as an excellent alternative for inspecting ceramic parts that cannot be inspected with traditional NDT. PCRT goes beyond traditional resonance testing by applying pattern recognition algorithms and process control statistics to precise resonant data. PCRT is a trained method that learns which resonance variation is acceptable, and which is unacceptable, while also monitoring in-control processes. PCRT is used for studying structural integrity and functional performance in a variety of ceramic parts including ceramic balls, seal rings, and armor plates. PCRT is a whole body inspection that detects internal defects such as [...]

A More Comprehensive NDE: PCRT for Ceramic Components

Ceramic material advancements have produced many new components to meet the needs of the growing technology requirements. Traditional NDT methods (UT, ET, RT, and PT) often provide incomplete results when used to inspect these components, leading to multiple costly and time consuming inspections. Process Compensated Resonant Testing (PCRT) has been demonstrated as an excellent alternative for inspecting ceramic parts that cannot be inspected with traditional NDT. PCRT goes beyond traditional resonance testing by applying pattern recognition algorithms and process control statistics to precise resonant data. PCRT is a trained method that learns which resonance variation is acceptable, and which is unacceptable, while also monitoring in-control processes. PCRT is used for studying structural integrity and functional performance in a variety of ceramic parts including ceramic balls, seal rings, and armor plates. PCRT is a whole body inspection that detects internal defects such as [...]

Nondestructive Evaluation of Hybrid Bearing Ceramic Rollers Using Process Compensated Resonant Testing (PCRT)

We have used Process Compensated Resonant Testing (PCRT) for studying structural integrity and functional performance of ceramic balls used in various auxiliary power units (APUs), propulsion engines, and defense and space missiles. The results show that PCRT is successful in sorting acceptable parts from parts with defects such as micro-structural changes, C-cracks, and scuffs. However, PCRT suffers from limitations, generally not determining the type, size or location of the anomaly. The pursuit of improvements to PCRT is an on-going process.

Patents

  • U.S. Patent 10481104, 10718723 for Utilizing RI of in-service parts
  • U.S. Patent 9157788, 10067094 for Part evaluation system/method using both resonances and surface vibration data
  • U.S. Patent 8903675 for Acoustic system and method for NDT of a part through frequency sweeps
  • U.S. Patent 9228981 for Resonance Inspection-based surface defect system/method
  • U.S. Patent 9335300 for SAW mode-based surface defect method
  • U.S. Patent 9927403 for Resonance inspection sorting module array
  • U.S. Patent 10295510 for Part evaluation based upon system natural frequency
  • U.S. Patent 9074927 for Methods for non-destructively evaluating a joined component
  • U.S. Patent 9228980 for Non-destructive evaluation methods for aerospace components
  • U.S. Patent 10746704 for PCRT for process control

ASTM Standards

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