Seeing Sound

Quick Overview

The video demonstrates the capability of the Fluke ii915 Acoustic Imager to locate subtle, high-frequency sounds, successfully identifying a tire puncture leak and pinpointing ultrasonic noise sources from electronic components like a power supply transformer and a Marx generator, even in noisy environments, by visualizing sound intensity across a frequency spectrum.

Key Points: The Fluke ii915 Acoustic Imager successfully located a slow air leak in a white Toyota Matrix tire by visualizing bubbling soap water around the puncture point (0:05-0:24). The device detected high-frequency noise (ultrasonic) escaping a leaking gas pipe connection on a structure clad in OSB, proving its use for detecting leaks invisible to the naked ear (4:08-4:38). The presenter used the imager to locate a buzzing noise originating from a switching power supply transformer, which was vibrating at frequencies between 15 kHz and 35 kHz (6:55-7:44). A custom-built 'S' shape array of 22 ultrasonic transmitters (resonating at 40 kHz) was used to test the imager's spatial resolution, clearly mapping the sound sources (11:02-11:36). The imager detected corona discharge noise (up to 70 kHz) from a high-voltage Marx generator, demonstrating its application in locating electrical discharge sources that cause audible noise (8:45-9:33). The device displays an overlay of sound intensity (color-coded from blue/low to red/high) onto a visible light image, alongside a real-time spectral analysis graph (3:37, 3:40).

Context: The video serves as a practical demonstration showcasing the versatility and effectiveness of the Fluke ii915 Acoustic Imager, a specialized tool designed to visualize sound, particularly in the ultrasonic range (2 kHz to 100 kHz). The presenter, Mehdi Sadaghdar, conducts several tests—locating a tire leak, finding a gas leak, diagnosing high-frequency noise in electronics, and visualizing standing waves from an ultrasonic array—to prove the device's value for predictive maintenance and failure analysis in various industrial and technical settings.