Non-Destructive Evaluation of Steel-Structure Using Laser-Generated Ultrasonic

Abstract

In the present study, a Nd;YAG Laser (pulse type) was used to emit ultrasonic signals to a test material. In addition, a total ultrasonic investigation system was designed by adopting a Fabry-Perot interferometer, which receives ultrasonic signals without any contact. For non-destructive test SM45C, which contains some flaws was used as a test material. Because it is easy to align light beam in receiver, and the length of the light beam does not change much even if convex mirror leans towards one side, confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer, which has stable frequency, and PI control are used to correct interfered and unstable signals from temperature, fluctuation and time shift of laser frequency. Stable signals are always obtained by the feedback of PI circuit signals in the confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer. The type, size and position of flaws inside the test material were examined by achieving the stabilization of an interferometer. This study presented a useful method, which could quantitatively investigate the fault of objects by using a Fabry-Perot interferometer.