Imaging Hilbert-Transformed Ultrasonic Data

Abstract Automatic or semiautomatic ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation systems usually scan objects for defects by the B-scan or C-scan method. B-scan or C-scan images are used to evaluate the quality of the object. Complex ultrasonic images can be quickly and easily produced using the Hilbert transform method. Simultaneous real-time displays of the complex and C-scan images is also possible. Some characteristics of the echoes reflected from the defects do not show up clearly in C-scan images but can be easily observed in the complex ultrasonic images. Two specimens, one with a blind hole and the other with 16 blind holes, were scanned. The C-scan image and complex images were displayed simultaneously in order to compare the resolution of the images. The experimental results showed that the attributes of instantaneous amplitude can enhance the weak events, but the resolution of the image is apparently not improved. The advantage of the instantaneous phase and instantaneous frequency attributes are that they are very sensitive to the boundaries of the holes. Though the images may look noisy, they really offer an opportunity to show the holes that C-scan image cannot.