Visualization of Surface-Breaking Flaws by Shadow Imaging

It is becoming fairly routine to detect flaws in structures by ultrasonic methods. However, the characterization of flaws, once they are found, is much more difficult. We will present a method called “shadow imaging” for the visualization of surface-breaking crack-like flaws using ultrasonic imaging. Shadow images provide an easily interpretable record of the crack depth profile, and also an indication of the degree of crack closure