Synthetic Aperture Real-time Ultrasonic Scroll-imaging System

ABSTRACT The synthetic aperture imaging technique has recently become popular in the field of non-destructive testing, but the image reconstruction process takes too long to be applied pratically. We have developed a new real-time ultrasonic imaging system based on the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT). The imaging system provides a cross-sectional image as a scrolling picture of an object with high and uniform azimuthal resolution. The imaging experiments have been conducted with the system on test specimens, plate and pipe, that have artificial defects to confirm and demonstrate the wide applicability of the system to ultrasonic nondestructive testing. The results were so satisfactory that the imaging system is expected to be widely applied in the field of non-destructive testing.