Generation and reception of ultrasonic guided waves in composite plates using conformable piezoelectric transmitters and optical-fiber detectors

A condition monitoring nondestructive evaluation (NDE) system, combining the generation of ultrasonic Lamb waves in thin composite plates and their subsequent detection using an embedded optical fiber system is described. The acoustic source is of low profile with respect to the composite plate thickness, surface conformable, and able to efficiently launch a known Lamb wave mode, at operating frequencies between 100 and 500 kHz, over typical propagation distances of 100 to 500 mm. It incorporates both piezocomposite technology and interdigital design techniques to generate the fundamental symmetrical Lamb wave mode in both metallic and carbon-fiber composite plates. Linear systems and finite element modeling techniques have been used to evaluate the operation of the transducer structure, and this is supplemented by experimental verification of the simulated data. An optical fiber, either bonded to the surface or embedded across the length of the composite plate samples, is used to detect the propagating ultrasonic Lamb waves. Single mode silica fiber has been used in conjunction with a portable 633 nm Mach-Zehnder interferometer for signal demodulation and subsequent data acquisition. This hybrid system is shown to generate and detect the fundamental symmetrical Lamb wave (s(0)) in both carbon-fiber and glass-fiber reinforced composite plates. Importantly, the system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the acoustic source compares favorably with s(0) Lamb wave generation using a conventional transducer and angled perspex wedge arrangement.     

光纤布拉格传感器兰姆波检测的反射谱分析

传统的兰姆波多采用压电陶瓷换能器激发和接收。建立了新的超声兰姆波无损检测系统,其基本思想是采用布拉格光纤传感器作为兰姆波的接收器。光纤光栅传感的基本原理是通过检测光栅反射的中心波长移动实现对外界参量如超声的测量。超声作用下光纤光栅的反射谱发生变化,对超声作用下光纤光栅的反射谱变化进行了数值分析,结果表明,超声对光栅反射谱的影响与超声波长与光栅长度的比值是高度相关的。只有当这个比值相当大时,反射谱的形状才不会变化而中心波长发生偏移,此时光纤传感器可用来探测兰姆波。这个结论为利用新的兰姆波无损检测系统在布拉格光栅长度的设计和兰姆波波长的选择方面提供了有用的工具。     

Reflection of ultrasonic Lamb waves produced by thin conducting strips

The reflection of ultrasonic Lamb waves produced by a periodic array of thin conducting strips deposited on a piezoelectric plate was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A repetitively mismatched transmission line model was used to analyze the performance of the reflector. The reflection coefficient of a single strip is given by R approximately Deltav/v, where Deltav/v is the fractional change in velocity produced by electrical shorting of the propagation surface. An attractive property of Lamb waves is that they can provide a much higher value of Deltav/v than is possible with surface acoustic waves. Therefore, efficient Lamb wave reflectors can be realized with relatively few strips in the reflector. For example, reflection coefficient very close to unity, R approximately 0.98, has been obtained in a Lamb wave reflector consisting of just 12 strips on a Y-X lithium niobate plate. The reflector has been used to realize a unidirectional transducer (UDT). A Lamb wave delay line consisting of two UDTs shows insertion loss of less than 3 dB with fractional bandwidth greater than 7%     

基于气体基压电复合材料的线聚焦空耦超声传感器研制与应用

空气耦合式超声检测技术因具有非接触、无损伤等特点,被广泛应用于材料的非接触检测。本文从晶硅太阳能电池的实际检测需求出发,设计并制作了一种气体基线聚焦空气耦合（空耦）式超声传感器,与传统的聚合物基空气耦合（空耦）式超声传感器相比,气体基线聚焦空耦传感器利用了3D打印技术将聚合物基框架改进为镂空结构,进一步降低了压电复合材料的声阻抗。所研制的传感器中心频率约为150 kHz,聚焦半径为20 mm,孔径为28 mm。对传感器进行了激励接收性能测试,并采用空耦超声Lamb波检测技术,对含有裂纹缺陷的单晶硅太阳能电池片进行非接触式检测,通过分析接收信号的幅值信息并利用相关系数法,完成了对裂纹缺陷的检出和定位,实现了气体基线聚焦空耦传感器在缺陷检测中的应用。     

Air-coupled piezoelectric detection of laser-generated ultrasound

A pulsed laser has been used to generate ultrasonic transients in samples of metal and fiber-reinforced polymer composite material. These have been detected using an air-coupled piezoelectric transducer. It is demonstrated that such a transduction system can be used for longitudinal waves in bulk material, Rayleigh waves at solid surfaces and Lamb waves in thin plates.     

板状结构中基于Lamb波单模态的缺陷成像试验研究

Lamb波技术非常适于板类结构的各种缺陷检测。为了得到模态较为单一的Lamb波,使得接收信号更具有解释性,缺陷更容易识别,该文中在板上下表面的相同位置分别布置压电传感器阵列,采用同一位置上下表面的双压电片同相或反相激励,激励出单一S₀或A₀模态。运用这种单模态的Lamb波激励方式对板中缺陷进行检测,结合椭圆成像算法与数据融合方法对压电传感器阵列接收到的多组信号进行缺陷成像。该方法有效的实现了板中缺陷的二维成像定位,检测出人工缺陷,并提高了缺陷的可识别能力和定位精度。     

Ultrasonic piezoceramic transducers with a magnetoacoustic layer

We describe the design and present the results of calculations of the properties of an ultrasonic transducer based on a piezoceramic plate in mechanical contact with a layer of a magnetoacoustic material. The transducer is characterized by strong dependence of the velocities of both transverse and longitudinal waves on the magnetic field. This allows the resonance frequency and the bandwidth to be effectively controlled even in the case of low-Q piezoelectric ceramics and makes it possible to create a tunable frequency standard based on a high-Q piezoelectric material.     

用于非线性兰姆波检测的高灵敏度宽带光纤光栅传感器

光纤传感器因其灵敏度高,已逐渐应用于超声检测的研究中,但大多数光纤传感器的频带响应范围有限,约为几百k Hz,很难检测到更高频率的信号。所提出的光纤布拉格光栅(Fiber Bragg Grating,FBG)传感器的高频检测范围可以达到4 MHz左右,大大提高了其检测带宽范围。文中将传感器应用于304不锈钢板兰姆波的非线性检测,同时与传统超声换能器的检测结果做对比。实验结果表明,用脉冲波激励信号时,FBG传感器可以检测到钢板兰姆波的基频到五倍频信号,表明FBG在检测兰姆波非线性上是有很大潜力的。     

Temperature Independent Damage Detection in Plates Using Redundant Signal Measurements

This paper describes a method to detect notch like damages in plates using piezoelectric transducers. The method does not use prior baseline data for damage detection. A single pair of piezoelectric wafer transducers made of Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) is attached back to back on the opposite sides of a plate and are used for simultaneous actuation and sensing. A notch, which is a sudden change in thickness of the plate, leads to mode conversion of Lamb waves. The mode converted wave component in the measured signal is then separated from the other Lamb wave mode components using polarization characteristics of the piezoelectric wafer transducers. The damage index is a function of the amplitude of this mode converted component of the signal. In real world situations, the damage index will not be exactly zero due to inaccuracy in transducer collocation and non-uniformity in their bonding conditions. Therefore, a (non-zero) threshold for the damage index needs to be established to avoid false alarms. True to the spirit of baseline-free damage detection, this threshold is computed from the signals acquired only from the current state of the structure. This is achieved by using redundancy in signal measurements. Since the method detects damages without having to rely on baseline data, environmental variations like temperature change do not affect its performance. Results from numerical simulations as well as experiments on aluminum specimens are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method described above.     

An Inductively Coupled Lamb Wave Transducer

Wafer-type piezoelectric transducers are effective transducers for the excitation and detection of ultrasonic Lamb waves in plate-like structures. Such transducers are, however, vulnerable to corrosion and physical damage when mounted in exposed locations. In this paper we describe an inductively coupled Lamb wave transducer that eliminates the need for direct electrical connections. Signals are coupled into and out of the transducer using two probe coils. In this paper we explore the operation of inductively coupled transducers both analytically and experimentally. Finite-element analysis is used to determine inductances and the coupling constant, and electrical circuit analysis to determine the transfer function and its dependence on the gap between the probe coils and the transducer. Experiments show that return signals of millivolt amplitude are obtained when the transducer is excited with 10-V amplitude pulses. These transducers are suitable for permanent mounting on structures to be monitored for cracks or flaws     

识别薄板中兰姆波和体波的阶梯板方法

斜探头在某些频率下激励出的兰姆波,其群速度与体波的传播速度相近,所以通过判断传播速度不易区分出兰姆波和体波。通过数值模拟和实验,分别研究了激励频率为2 MHz的纵波和S0模态兰姆波在阶梯板上的反射特性,发现:在阶梯板上入射S0模态兰姆波时,有反射回波;而入射纵波时,无反射回波。基于这种反射特性的差别,提出了一种利用阶梯板区别薄板中兰姆波和体波的方法,该方法可用于确认探头的激励特性。     

Impact localisation with FBG for a self-healing carbon fibre composite structure

We demonstrated the localisation of impacts in orthotropic carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials to within a few centimetres, using a sparse array of fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. This type of sensor is easily embedded in composites permitting the development of structures with integrated sensing capability. Impact location was determined by measuring the differences in time-of-flight of ultrasonic Lamb waves at three surface-mounted sensors. An algorithm was developed taking into account the angle dependence of the optical fibre sensor sensitivity and the variation of Lamb waves propagation velocity with direction and wave mode. The performance of FBG sensors for impact localisation was compared to that of standard piezoelectric transducers (PZTs), which are already widely used for that purpose. The FBG-based system showed promising potential for a non-intrusive impact detection system applied to self-healing composite structures.     

Impact localisation with FBG for a self-healing carbon fibre composite structure

We demonstrated the localisation of impacts in orthotropic carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials to within a few centimetres, using a sparse array of fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. This type of sensor is easily embedded in composites permitting the development of structures with integrated sensing capability. Impact location was determined by measuring the differences in time-of-flight of ultrasonic Lamb waves at three surface-mounted sensors. An algorithm was developed taking into account the angle dependence of the optical fibre sensor sensitivity and the variation of Lamb waves propagation velocity with direction and wave mode. The performance of FBG sensors for impact localisation was compared to that of standard piezoelectric transducers (PZTs), which are already widely used for that purpose. The FBG-based system showed promising potential for a non-intrusive impact detection system applied to self-healing composite structures.     

Laser generation of Lamb waves for defect detection: experimental methods and finite element modeling

The propagation of Lamb waves generated by a pulsed laser beam in an aluminum sheet is modeled using finite element analysis, and the interaction with defects is studied and compared to experimental results. The ultrasonic Lamb waves are detected by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The frequency content of the received wave is shown to be enhanced when the generation point is situated directly over the defect in both the modeled and experimental cases. Time-frequency analysis using a Wigner transform has enabled individual modes to be identified.     

Time-reversed Lamb waves

Lamb waves are extensively involved in plate structure inspection because of their guided nature. However, their dispersive nature often limits their use in flaw detection. In this paper we show that the use of a time-reversal mirror (TRM) allows to automatically compensate for the dispersive nature of Lamb waves. Experiments showing the spatial and temporal behavior of time-reversed Lamb waves, demonstrate the ability of TRMs to self-focus and to recompress dispersive pulses. This is demonstrated in a set of experiments in which a broadband ultrasonic laser source is used to simulate a point Lamb wave source and an optical interferometer is used to map the time reversed elastic field. We also show that TRM may work in pulse echo mode and allows to detect and to focus along large 2-D plates on any flaws located in the inspected area.     

A novel, single-mode piezoceramic plate actuator for ultrasonic linear motors

A new type of piezoelectric plate actuator for ultrasonic linear motors has been developed. These new piezoelectric actuators use the principle of asymmetric resonant excitation of the piezoceramic plate in a special resonant mode consisting of a standing two-dimensional extensional wave in a piezoceramic plate. The behavior of the actuator has been simulated with finite-element method (FEM) software and the simulation results checked with single-point contact measurements on the surface of the actuator. This paper describes this work and closes by describing the new ultrasonic translation stages based on this design.     

光纤非本征法布里-玻罗传感器兰姆波检测灵敏度分析

基于兰姆波的结构工况检测技术在评估复合材料和金属结构的安全性和耐久性方面发挥着重要的作用。作为对传统的压电换能器（PZT）的一种很好的替代,光纤传感器在传感方面的应用正被广泛地挖掘出来,包括兰姆波检测。本文从理论上建立了超声兰姆波作用下光纤非本征法布里．玻罗（EFPI）传感器参数与其输出性能之间的关系。数值结果显示了传感器的性能与其相对于声源的方向角以及传感器的计量长度与超声波长的比值相关。所得出的结论对于EFPI传感器精确地探测兰姆波提供了理论依据。     

Hamilton体系下的功能梯度电磁弹性固体内的导波研究

根据Hamilton原理建立了三维压电压磁动力学耦合系统的Hamilton对偶体系，将经典的弹性力学一类变量问题转化为二类变量，建立了Hamilton正则方程组，研究了功能梯度电磁材料（FGMM）板／管内的弹性导波的频散特性及波结构特征。结果表明：（1）压电效应提高了Lamb波的频率和波速，而磁效应则相反，压电效应对波动的影响远大于磁效应；它们而对SH波没有影响（厚度方向极化）。（2）短路及断路电学边界条件对SH波不发生任何影响（厚度方向极化），而短路对Lamb波的频率和波速有不同程度的降低（相同波数下）。（3）在波结构上，对平板而言，所谓的“对称”和“反对称”Lamb波由于材料的梯度特性而变得不再严格的关于中心线对称或反对称。对管而言，由于材料的非均匀分布导致存轴对称栩转波模态中出现了横截面翘曲现象．轴对称纵向波也出现厚度剪切应力。     

Shear lag solution for tuning ultrasonic piezoelectric wafer active sensors with applications to Lamb wave array imaging

An analytical investigation of the interaction between piezoelectric wafer active sensor (PWAS), guided Lamb waves, and host structure is presented in this paper, supported with application examples. The analytical investigation assumes a PWAS transducer bonded to the upper surface of an isotropic flat plate. Shear lag transfer of tractions and strains is assumed, and an analytical solution using the space-wise Fourier transform is reviewed, closed-form solutions are presented for the case of both ideal bonding (i.e., load transfer mechanism localized at the PWAS boundary) and not ideal bonding (i.e., load transfer mechanism localized close the PWAS boundary). The analytical solutions are used to derive Lamb wave mode tuning curves which indicate that frequencies exist at which the A0 mode or the S0 mode can be either suppressed or enhanced. The paper further shows that the capability to excite only one desired Lamb wave mode is critical for practical structural health monitoring applications such as PWAS phased array technique (e.g., the embedded ultrasonics structural radar, EUSR) and the sparse array imaging. Extensive experimental tests that verify the tuning mechanism and prediction curves are reported. Examples of correctly tuned EUSR images vs. detuned cases illustrate the paramount importance of Lamb wave mode tuning for the success of PWAS based damage detection.     

Ultrasonic based method for damage identification in composite materials

We present an ultrasonic-based Lamb wave propagation method for identifying and measuring the damage location in a material as a basis for structural health monitoring (SHM). Lamb waves can propagate in a structure via mode conversion and reflection from the surfaces of the structure, and can lead to interference patterns as a resulting wave vector propagates along the structure. We determined the experimental and analytical effects of various parameters on the sensitivity of damage detection. A methodology is proposed for estimating and measuring the location of damage in test specimens. An experimental setup is used for generating A_o? Lamb waves by calibrating ultrasonic pulse generation for optimal values of parameters. Materials with different damage levels are tested in their undamaged and damaged conditions, and the effects of the parameters on the generated waves in test specimens are observed experimentally.