METHOD FOR ACOUSTIC INSPECTION OF ARTICLES Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: methods of nondestructive inspection. SUBSTANCE: in disclosed method plasma converts oscillations of electromagnetic field into mechanical vibrations then it converts said mechanical vibrations back its oscillations of voltage and current. Owing to a very small weight of plasma particles (ions and electrons) which induce mechanical vibrations in plasma, there are no distortions caused by inertia of vibrating bodies. The articles heated to very high temperatures are inspected with plasma produced by thermal dissociation of medium surrounding the red-hot object of inspection. To protect the plasma used for inspection in liquid and in other unfavorable conditions, it is isolated from the ambient medium, for example by means of a pressure-tight bottle, casing, etc. The method provides for diagnosing the outer skin and engines of aircraft in flight, including the passage through dense layers of the atmosphere. The method is suitable for inspection, for example of hulls of ships and submarines with artificially-produced plasma in vacuum and in various liquids. EFFECT: inspection of articles is simplified by using plasma produced by any conventional method in the capacity of acoustic medium. 3 cl, 6 dwg