Flaw detection with ultrasonic backscatter signal envelopes

Ultrasound is a prominent nondestructive testing modality for the detection, localization, and sizing of defects in engineering materials. Often, inspectors analyze ultrasonic waveforms to determine if echoes, which stem from the scattering of ultrasound from a defect, exceed a threshold value. In turn, the initial selection of the threshold value is critical. In this letter, a time-dependent threshold or upper bound for the signal envelope is developed based on the statistics governing the scattering of ultrasound from microstructure. The utility of the time-dependent threshold is demonstrated using experiments conducted on sub-wavelength artificial defects. The results are shown to enhance current nondestructive inspection practices.