Patent attributes
An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for composite materials includes a prism that is manufactured from a polymer resin. The ultrasonic inspection reference standard may be a rectangular prism and may be a polymer resin step-wedge reference standard that has similar acoustic properties as prior art fiber-reinforced composite step-wedge reference standards at significantly lower manufacturing cost. A photo-polymer resin reference standard may be created using a stereo lithography process. The polymer resin reference standard may replace a currently used expensive fiber-reinforced composite reference standard. The ultrasonic inspection reference standard manufactured from a polymer resin may be used, for example, for ultrasonic inspection of fiber-reinforced composite parts. The polymer resin reference standard may be used, for example, in the aircraft airframe industry, both commercial and defense.