Two projects this year have further demonstrated the usefulness of the L_CR StressMap technique in two other areas, a round-robin related to residual stress in titanium samples and another for evaluating stress overload and hydrogen attack in steels.
L_CR Demonstrations 2007 (.doc)

USITutor ultrasonic training software has been tested on Vista and on Windows XP on an Intel Mac and it runs normally. On Sale - $85

The Keynote presentation for the June 2007 ASNT ICPIIT Conference in Houston was titled "NDE in the Flat Earth Society." A copy of the Powerpoint presentation by Dr. Bray is available from the downloads section of this website.

Dr. Don E. Bray received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award at the 11th Annual International Symposium on Nondestructive Evaluation for Health Monitoring and Diagnostics, SPIE Smart Structures and Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, San Diego, California, March 2007.

ASTM E-2479-06 - Practice for Measuring the Ultrasonic Velocity in Polyethylene Tank Walls Using Lateral Longitudinal (LCR) Waves has been approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Research Programs (5 Years)
Texas Research Institute, Austin, Texas - evaluate LCR ultrasonic technique for predicting crystallographic orientation in aircraft turbine blades, April 2006.

Temple Inland, Diboll, Texas, Investigate using ultrasound to detect rocks in gypsum slurry in wallboard manufacture. June 2006 - present.

Poly Processing Company, Monroe, Louisiana - development of ultrasonic technique to determine ultraviolet degradation in cross-linked polyethylene. 2001 - 2006.

Kaiser Aluminum - evaluate use of LCR technique for measuring residual stress in rolled aluminum plates. 1999 - 2005.

Patents
"Ultrasonic Characterization of Polymeric Containers." With Raed Al-Zubi (Application 10/679,658). 4/07/05, Submitted Sept 2003, Allowed 3/23/2006.

Latest version of the LCR StressMap probe undergoing evaluation at a US aluminum plate rolling facility. See LCRStressmap for info.

Consulting
Fisher, Boyd, Brown, Boudreaux and Huguenard, LLP, Houston, Texas, Analysis of garage door accident. October 2006 - present

Earl G. Pitre, Attorney, Lake Charles, LA, - Advise on accident involving ATV. Nov 2005 - Sept 2006.

Melissa Murrah, Kelly, Smith and Murrah, P. C., Attorneys, Houston, Texas, Perform tests and advise on strength of steel banding. March 2006.

Swift and Harrington, Attorneys, Palestine, Texas, Advise on trailer hitch failure, June 2006.

Reviewed Journal Publications
Bray, Don E., and Raed Al-Zubi, "Evaluating Ultraviolet Degradation in Cross-Linked Polyethylene Storage Tanks using Ultrasound," Materials Evaluation, Vol, 64, No. 3, March 2006, pp. 285-292.

Bray, Don E., Vela, John M., and Al-Zubi, Raed, "Stress And Temperature Effects On Ultrasonic Properties In Cross Linked And High Density Polyethylene," Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, Vol. 127, No. 3, August 2005, pp. 220-225.

dos Santos, Auteliano, Bray, Don E., Andrino, Marcello H., and Trevisan, Roseanna, "Application of Acoustoelasticity to Evaluate Stress Relaxation in API 5L x70 Steel for Pipelines," Materials Evaluation, Vol, 63, No. 5, May 2005, pp. 511-515.

Conference Publications / Proceedings
Bray, Don E., "Performance Comparison of Two LCR Probes Using a Reference Frame," Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Brunswick, Maine, 31 July - 5 August 2005, Vol. 25B, American Institute of Physics, 820, pp. 1442-1449.

Presentations
Bray, D. E., "NDE Research Opportunities in ASME Codes and Standards," ASNT 13th Annual Research Symposium, Austin, Texas, 8-12 March 2004.

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What is Nondestructive Testing? A very good overview of the justification and physical bases for NDE is on the ASNT home page. Click here