| SOCIETYNOTES A NEW WAY TO READ EBOOKS ASNT has rolled out a new way to access and read ebooks at ebooks. asnt.org! Now users can enjoy a more streamlined access and reading expe- rience, easier keyword searches, a less restrictive digital rights manager, and a personal digital library. No software is required users no longer will need to download a separate app to view and manage their ebook. An optional browser plug-in is available for anno- tating and highlighting pages. If you have questions, please email customer support@asnt.org. ASNT MEMBERS CAN NOW ACCESS THE RNDE ARCHIVE Research in Nondestructive Evaluation (RNDE) papers from prior years are now available free to ASNT members. This new member benefit provides access to papers from 1989 to 2021. RNDE contains the results of original research in all areas of nondestructive evaluation (NDE). This research journal covers experimental and theoretical investi- gations dealing with the scientific and engineering bases of NDE, its measure- ment methodology, and a wide range of applications of materials and struc- tures that relate to the entire life cycle, from manufacture to use and retire- ment. To access RNDE online, go to asnt. org/rnde and make sure you’re logged in with your MyASNT credentials. SAVE THE DATE FOR RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM The 31th Research Symposium will take place 26–29 June 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. Accepted presenters will have the opportunity to publish their work in a special Symposium edition of Research in Nondestructive Evaluation. For more details, go to asnt.org/events. NDE OF BRIDGES Nondestructive testing and inspection of bridges have been historically limited to visual testing. However, lots of interesting solutions are being developed to determine key features of bridges such as concrete thickness, steel rebar condi- tions, corrosion, compressive strength, and chloride content. In this section, we discuss inspection of bridges using different techniques. US7992449B1 METHOD FOR ASSESSMENT OF CABLE STRENGTH AND RESIDUAL LIFE (Khaled M. Mahmoud) This patent describes a statistical method for assessing condition and residual life span of bridge cables. The overall approach is based on random sampling of a few cable wires and mechanical testing to determine probability of defects in the wires, simulating stress strain curves to determine strain incre- ment levels to reach ultimate elongation and hence remaining useful life. The approach utilizes a computational model to establish the distribution pattern of broken and cracked wires and applying the rate of changes to a time-dependent degradation prediction model to deter- mine the remaining useful life. US10620085B2 BRIDGE INSPECTION AND EVALUATION METHOD BASED ON IMPACT VIBRATION (Jian Zhang, Qi Xia, Bo Zhang, and Shuanglin Guo) This patent describes a low-cost and effi- cient technique for inspection of medium and small bridges utilizing impact vibra- tion. A backward analysis based on impact of blocks is utilized to rapidly inspect bridges from the road network to find ones with bearing capacity shortage. A forward analysis based on progressive impact loading is performed to evaluate the bearing capacity of bridges in good safety conditions. This bridge bearing capacity is assessed using actual static deflections and residual deflections from a calculated static load at the displace- ment measurement points associated with cracks or other defects. US9036861B2 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY INSPECTING BRIDGES AND OTHER STRUCTURES (Shen-En Chen, Edwin W. Hauser, Charles G. Boyle, and Meenu Natarajan) This patent describes a low-cost inven- tion based on spatially integrated small-format aerial photography for imaging bridge surfaces to supplement visual inspection. The camera, along with a GPS for geo-referencing instru- ments in the airplanes flying at about 304.8 m (1000 ft) above, allow detection of sub-inch cracks and joint openings on the bridge. A plurality of aerial photog- raphy image captures are processed and combined to create a composite image for automatically marking structural defects, followed by a rating technique to quantify the structural conditions of the bridge. Patents Roundup provides a review of recent patents of interest to the NDT community. If you’ve been granted a patent and would like to see it featured in an upcoming issue, please email Patents Editor Saptarshi Mukherjee at mukherjee5@llnl.gov. Editor’s Note: Patents Roundup reviews both issued patents and published patent applications. Issued patents are listed by patent number, typically separated by commas (e.g., US Patent 10,891,520) and published patent applications are listed with the year first, followed by an identification number (e.g., 2018/0261344). At times, published applications may be of more interest to our readers because they are published 18 months from the application date, whereas granted patents typically take much longer. However, please be aware of the provisional rights to a reasonable royalty under 35 U.S.C. 154(d) between the date of publication and the date the patent is issued. PATENTSROUNDUP | SCANNER J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 • M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N 13 2301 ME Jan New.indd 13 12/20/22 8:15 AM

ULTRASONIC INSPECTION SOLUTION Waygate Technologies, a Baker Hughes business and provider of nondestruc- tive testing (NDT) solutions for industrial inspection, introduces Krautkrämer SpotVision, a new phased array ultra- sonic solution for spot weld inspection. Krautkrämer SpotVision was developed specifically for the requirements of spot weld inspection in the automotive industry. By using the inspection device (e.g., on chassis parts during the manu- facturing process), car companies can reduce downtime while ensuring that their products meet high quality stan- dards and product safety is guaranteed. The Krautkrämer SpotVision solution combines a new phased array probe with the latest software and the Krautkrämer Mentor UT flaw detector. WAYGATE TECHNOLOGIES BAKERHUGHES.COM/WAYGATE-TECHNOLOGIES WIRELESS 3D SCANNER Exact Metrology: A Division of In-Place Machining Company now offers the 2022 Artec Leo from Artec 3D. The NVIDIA Jetson TX2 processor in this new version runs at more than twice the power of its predecessor, while consuming less than 7.5 watts. Additionally, it’s equipped with multi-core processing with the NIVIDIA Denver 2. This adds two cores and more horsepower to what’s now a Heterogeneous Multi-Processor Architecture, with 2 GHz on each of the six cores. The 2022 Leo also features a new 3D scanning experience with a fresh new user interface and a screen that’s easier to use. EXACT METROLOGY: A DIVISION OF IN-PLACE MACHINING COMPANY EXACTMETROLOGY.COM DIGITIZER CARDS A new firmware option has been created by Spectrum Instrumentation that allows the company’s high-speed M5i digitizer cards to perform onboard summation averaging. Averaging is a useful tool for reducing unwanted signal noise, while at the same time improving measurement resolution, dynamic range, and signal- to-noise ratio (SNR). The new option enables the M5i digitizers to perform the averaging function by utilizing advanced onboard Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology. The M5i series digi- tizers deliver real-time sampling at rates up to 6.4 GS/s with 12-bit resolution, and they can stream all the acquired data directly over the PCIe bus at 12.8 GB/s. SPECTRUM INSTRUMENTATION GMBH SPECTRUM-INSTRUMENTATION.COM EDDY CURRENT FLAW DETECTOR UniWest announces the new EddyView® II portable eddy current flaw detector. The EddyView II features a large 8 in. touchscreen display with gesture adjust- ments for key parameters such as gain and rotation, ability to drive conven- tional probes or array probes, an inde- pendent channel that monitors probe to part coupling (liftoff), and UniWest’s signal performance with extremely low signal-to-noise. The EddyView II also includes multi-frequency probe drive and signal mixing, digital conductivity and nonconductive coating thickness. It is compatible with UniWest’s ECS-1S and JF-15 rotating bolt hole scanners. UNIWEST UNIWEST.COM SPRAY FOAM DEPTH GAUGE Paul N. Gardner USA introduces a new offering: The Depth Gauge. Used for measuring thickness of open and closed cell foam, this product allows commercial roofing contractors and spray polyure- thane applicators to test the depth of the foam quickly and easily while being applied on a roof substrate. It is also designed for measuring the depth of fireproofing (spray fire resistive material) to ensure consistent depth from one area to another. Constructed of sturdy plastic and weighing in at only 1 lb, this gauge can read depths up to 5.75 in. It has an easily adjustable stainless-steel pin and easy-to-read numbers. THE PAUL N. GARDNER COMPANY INC. GARDCO.COM SCANNER | NEWPRODUCTS 14 M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N • J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 2301 ME Jan New.indd 14 12/20/22 8:15 AM