Patent ID: 8381592

Claim:
Apparatus for ultrasonic non-destructive testing of a solid object, the apparatus comprising: a solid object under test, the solid object having studs welded thereto; an elongate strip of ultrasound transmissive material, said elongate strip having a transverse cross-section with a width and a thickness giving an aspect ratio greater than unity, a proximal end and a distal end; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to said elongate strip and matched thereto such that excitation of said ultrasonic transducer induces non-dispersive ultrasonic signals to propagate along said elongate strip to said proximal end, said signals being formed of components of different frequencies having wavelengths extending from λ short to λ long ; and a clamp clamping with an adjustable force said proximal end to the studs welded to the solid object, wherein said non-dispersive signals are coupled into the solid object; wherein said thickness is less than 2.5 λ short and said width is greater than 3.5 λ long .