Monitoring of refractory thickness using pulse-ultrasound and aluminum nitride (AIN) transducers

Author

Thomas George Burns

Abstract

"Monitoring the wall thickness of a refractory furnace while in operation is a difficult task due to the high temperature environment. Pulse-ultrasound is a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technique that is commonly used to measure the thickness of a sample but is difficult to apply at elevated temperatures due to the lack of a high temperature transducer. An aluminum-nitride (AlN) transducer, that is capable of sustained temperatures up to 800°C in air, was tested. The results obtained from this study indicate that the combination of AlN transducers and pulse-ultrasound shows promise in monitoring a refractory wall at elevated temperatures. It was shown that the AIN transducer determined the thickness of a common glass contact ceramic sample up to ~300°C with a less than an 18% error. One limiting factor preventing higher temperature measurements was the failure of the ultrasonic couplants between the transducer and the ceramic sample. The transducers could be redesigned to improve the signal quality"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Kosbar, Kurt Louis

Committee Member(s)

Velez, Mariano
Watkins, Steve Eugene, 1960-
Smith, Jeffrey D.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Electrical Engineering

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

Spring 2004

Pagination

ix, 50 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-49).

Rights

© 2004 Thomas George Burns, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Nondestructive testing -- Evaluation
Thickness measurement
Transducers
Ultrasonic imaging

Thesis Number

T 8513

Print OCLC #

56587913

Electronic OCLC #

905602499

Link to Catalog Record

Electronic access to the full-text of this document is restricted to Missouri S&T users. Otherwise, request this publication directly from Missouri S&T Library or contact your local library.

Recommended Citation

Burns, Thomas George, "Monitoring of refractory thickness using pulse-ultrasound and aluminum nitride (AIN) transducers" (2004). Masters Theses. 2522.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/2522