This project capitalizes on three emerging technologies by integrating a flexible membrane as a highly efficient transducer, impressive scanning and imaging algorithms found in medicine, and low-cost PC-based computers with a fast, digital signal processing (DSP) board. The eventual machine shall be capable of supporting rapid testing of ferrous and non-ferrous materials while on the assembly line with little operator attention, thus reducing quality control costs directly at the factory as a type of "go no go" detector. This will be possible in large part by the rugged and flexible transducer harness which will be impervious to a harsh manufacturing environment, the high quality of signal analysis afforded by tomography and the currently low cost computers.NDE of weldments, airframe integrity, mechanical bearing analysis, bone tissue diagnosis, dental surgery, and economical seismic exploration will benefit greatly from a low-cost expedient ultrasonic NDE analyzer.NDE, ultrasonic, tomography, Gericke, PZDFSTATUS: Phase I Only
