Production Verification of the Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor.
Abstract
The reported work is Phase III of an Army program to develop a microprocessor-based Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM) for the purpose of real-time monitoring of production armor welding. The objective of the Phase was to determine how effectively the AEWM can detect, locate, and classify weld flaws in production and to establish credibility of acoustic emission (AE) as an effective production tool. To accomplish these objectives, GARD fabricated an AEWM designed to monitor armor plate, and performed a six-month extended field test to provide a large data base for analysis. Twenty-five M1 tank hulls were evaluated with the AEWM and standard NDE tests. The results of the 6-month production test showed that 93 percent of the AE indications were confirmed by standard NDE tests. The AE detection model used is 83 percent accurate in identifying repairable flaws. (This can be improved to 88 percent with some changes in software). The AE characterization model was 100 percent accurate in identification of the most significant repairable flaw - a crack. The system has an average locational accuracy of better than one inch. Keywords include: Nondestructive testing, Acoustic Emission, Weld monitoring, Weld inspection, Armor plate welds, and Process control.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA154168
Entities
People
- I. R. Kraska
- J. E. Condray
- R. Crow Iii
- W. L. Lichodziejewski