多阵元合成孔径聚焦超声成像研究

对多阵元合成孔径聚焦超声成像进行了全面的研究.根据声场的辐射理论推导了多阵元孔径的声压分布,并分别对单阵元、多阵元聚焦和多阵元非聚焦的声场和缺陷响应进行了仿真,发现多阵元非聚焦的声场更适合于合成孔径聚焦超声成像,并根据这个原则进行了成像实验,结果表明在远场情况下,多阵元合成孔径聚焦超声成像可以获得比单阵元合成孔径聚焦成像更高的成像质量和分辨力.     

合成孔径聚焦超声成像在混凝土探伤中的应用研究

针对超声波在混凝土检测中分辨率低、成像质量差等问题,提出了采用合成孔径聚焦技术对检测声波信号进行成像处理的方法。通过超声波仿真软件WAVE 2000建立混凝土缺陷模型,结合混凝土超声探测的方式和特点,采用MATLAB软件编写相适应的合成孔径算法及GUI界面。结果表明,在混凝土超声探伤中,此方法确实有效地提高了成像质量。     

层状无砟轨道结构脱层缺陷超声成像

无砟轨道是典型的层状混凝土结构,脱层缺陷是其最常见的损伤形式,影响着高速列车的安全运行。传统的合成孔径聚焦成像方法是基于恒定声速的超声检测方法,忽略层间的声阻抗差异以及声波在层间界面处的折射,导致声束难以在缺陷处聚焦,声波在层状结构中传播的时间误差较大。鉴于此,提出了一种多层结构合成孔径聚焦成像方法,充分考虑多层结构中的层间声速差异,采用射线追踪方法准确获取声波在多层结构中的传播时间。在此基础上,分析了不同入射波模式以及不同激发频率对多层结构合成孔径聚焦成像结果的影响。结果表明：采用多层结构合成孔径聚焦成像方法,使用频率为50 kHz的横波入射成像分辨率更高,对无砟轨道脱层缺陷检测效果更好。该研究为该类缺陷检测提供了理论支撑。     

多盲孔缺陷的超声兰姆波时域拓扑能量成像方法研究

传统超声成像方法受瑞利准则的约束，难以对缺陷间距小于成像分辨率阈值的多缺陷进行成像。提出了一种基于时域拓扑能量的超声兰姆波成像方法，将逆散射拓扑成像方法中的拓扑渐进过程转换成求解直接声场和伴随声场。然后通过将伴随声场进行时间反转，两个声场将具有在缺陷处聚焦，在非缺陷处不聚焦的特性。将直接声场和伴随声场进行融合，以时域拓扑能量值作为像素值进行成像，从而使表征缺陷的精度较高。建立了缺陷间距小于分辨率阈值的多盲孔缺陷有限元模型，通过“一发多收”的方式激发S0模式和采集缺陷散射信号，并进行时域拓扑能量成像。仿真结果表明：对于多盲孔缺陷，时域拓扑能量成像法能够获得比延时叠加法和时间反转成像法更高的分辨率，并且能在缺陷间距小于成像分辨率阈值时进行成像。     

基于经验模态分解的聚焦超声非线性声场检测

为精确检测聚焦超声声场中的谐波成分并得到谐波分布规律,开展了对聚焦超声非线性声场检测的研究,提出基于经验模态分解的聚焦超声谐波检测方法。首先对声场信号进行经验模态分解;然后利用噪声判断准则判断出固有模态函数（IMF）中的噪声分量,滤除噪声分量后将剩余的IMF分量予以重新组合;最后对新信号进行傅里叶变换,得到各次谐波的幅值。结果表明:它能较好地抑制噪声,相比于传统的检测方法可获得更平滑的谐波分布;该方法对开展谐波成像、医学超声检测具有重要意义。     

红外热成像聚焦超声声场测量方法综述

基于红外热成像技术对聚焦超声声场进行快速、定量测量的方法具有扫描速度快、空间分辨率高、适用频率范围广等优点。但是由于红外线的穿透能力限制,在红外摄像仪和超声吸收体之间需要一个空气层,因此使得超声吸收体内部声场较为复杂,目前已有三种模型对此进行描述,且都得到了相应的实验验证。本文通过分析基于三种模型的超声吸收体内部声场分布和声强估计方法,对其进行了较为详细的描述。为进一步研究该项技术提供了理论参考依据。     

聚焦超声清洗机的仿真设计与实验研究

目前,超声清洗机通常是将一组换能器排布于平面式清洗槽底部,但用此方法会形成驻波现象,不利于超声清洗。文章提出了一种球面式聚焦超声清洗的方法,与普通超声清洗相比,该方法提高了超声清洗的效率。文章采用有限元COMSOL Multiphysics软件对清洗机内声场进行分析,得到三维模型内声压的分布情况;研制了聚焦超声清洗机,并通过薄膜腐蚀实验验证了清洗机内的声压分布情况;通过对比试验发现,聚焦超声清洗油污的速度比普通超声清洗提高了77.27%。通过薄膜腐蚀实验和超声清洗实验可知,聚焦超声清洗机内声场分布均匀,且声场内存在能量聚焦区域,清洗速率高于普通超声清洗机。     

复合材料层压板分层缺陷相控阵超声检测参数优化方法EI北大核心CSCD

针对复合材料层压板分层缺陷的准确识别问题,通过仿真与实验提出相控阵超声检测激活孔径优化方法,研究并分析不同聚焦深度下激活孔径对声场特性和检测效果的影响。首先,针对相控阵超声接触式检测方法,推导出固固界面下的多点源三维声场模型;然后,对相控阵超声声场进行仿真,研究不同激活孔径下的声场特性;最后,采用热压工艺制备含分层缺陷的碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料(CFRP)层压板,并搭建相控阵超声检测系统对其进行检测。实验结果表明,通过对相控阵超声激活孔径进行优化选择,能够实现CFRP层压板分层缺陷的准确识别,有效提高缺陷检测精度。     

高强度聚焦超声肿瘤治疗系统专项技术研究

本文通过对高强度聚焦超声治疗基本原理介绍,对HY2900聚焦超声肿瘤治疗系统实际工作几项特色专项技术HIFU声场分布参数测量、HIFU温度场测量、三维重建技术中任意方位切面图像浏览及边界轮廓的实现方法等进行讨论,介绍相关技术及方法.     

超声针灸相控阵声场及控制模式研究

超声“针灸”是利用二维相控阵实现声能在皮下不同深度的聚焦,刺激特定穴位,从而模拟传统针灸手法的治疗技术。对设计的超声针灸相控阵在不同聚焦深度下的垂直聚焦声场和偏转声场进行仿真,并对焦域进行统计分析,明确了所设计的相控阵探头延时聚焦声场可以满足超声“针灸”的“针形”声场要求。基于声场仿真,还对超声“针灸”声场控制模式进行了仿真研究,研究结果表明:控制超声相控阵聚焦声场聚焦位置的上下移动以及偏转聚焦,可以模拟传统针灸的提、插以及进针角度的变化,为超声“针灸”进一步模拟传统针灸手法提供了理论依据。     

ICARUS: imaging pulse compression algorithm through remapping of ultrasound

In this work we tackle the problem of applying to echographic imaging those synthetic aperture focusing techniques (SAFT) in the frequency domain commonly used in the field of synthetic aperture radars (SAR). The aim of this research is to improve echographic image resolution by using chirp transmit signals, and by performing pulse compression in both dimensions (depth and lateral). The curved geometry present in the unfocused radio-frequency (RF) ultrasonic image is the main cause of inaccuracy in the direct application of frequency domain SAFT algorithms to echographic imaging. The focusing method proposed in this work, after pulse compression in the depth dimension, performs lateral focusing in the mixed depth-lateral spatial frequency domain by means of a depth variant remapping followed by lateral pulse compression. This technique has the advantage of providing a resolution that is uniform in nonfrequency selective attenuation media, and improved with respect to conventional time domain SAFT, without requiring the acquisition and processing of channel data necessary for the most advanced synthetic transmit aperture techniques. Therefore, the presented method is suitable for easy real-time implementation with current generation hardware.     

Computational model considerations of defect detection in pipes with bends using focused guided wave

This paper investigates the propagation of guided ultrasonic wave in pipes with bends using finite element simulation. The defect detectability in pipes with bends, using time delay focusing and synthetic focusing by common source method (CSM) are studied. Results show that the time delay focusing technique improves the confidence in detecting a small defect (3.8% cross-sectional area) beyond the bend, but it is unable to detect defects close to other features like welds or bends. Meanwhile, CSM is able to improve defect detection beyond and close to welding and bends. However, a reference image of a defect-free pipe is needed to detect defects near welds.     

Synthetic aperture techniques with a virtual source element

A new imaging technique has been proposed that combines conventional B-mode and synthetic aperture imaging techniques to overcome the limited depth of field for a highly focused transducer. The new technique improves lateral resolution beyond the focus of the transducer by considering the focus a virtual element and applying synthetic aperture focusing techniques. In this paper, the use of the focus as a virtual element is examined, considering the issues that are of concern when imaging with an array of actual elements: the tradeoff between lateral resolution and sidelobe level, the tradeoff between system complexity (channel count/amount of computation) and the appearance of grating lobes, and the issue of signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the processed image. To examine these issues, pulse-echo RF signals were collected for a tungsten wire in degassed water, monofilament nylon wires in a tissue-mimicking phantom, and cyst targets in the phantom. Results show apodization lowers the sidelobes, but only at the expense of lateral resolution, as is the case for classical synthetic aperture imaging. Grating lobes are not significant until spatial sampling is more than one wavelength, when the beam is not steered. Resolution comparable to the resolution at the transducer focus can be achieved beyond the focal region while obtaining an acceptable SNR. Specifically, for a 15-MHz focused transducer, the 6-dB beamwidth at the focus is 157 mum, and with synthetic aperture processing the 6-dB beamwidths at 3, 5, and 7 mm beyond the focus are 189 mum, 184 mum, and 215 mum, respectively. The image SNR is 38.6 dB when the wire is at the focus, and it is 32.8 dB, 35.3 dB, and 38.1 dB after synthetic aperture processing when the wire is 3, 5, and 7 mm beyond the focus, respectively. With these experiments, the virtual source has been shown to exhibit the same behavior as an actual transducer element in response to synthetic aperture processing techniques.     

Spatial resolution enhancement of ultrasound images using neural networks

Spatial resolution in modern ultrasound imaging systems is limited by the high cost of large aperture transducer arrays, which require a large number of transducer elements and electronic channels. A new technique to enhance the spatial resolution of pulse-echo imaging systems is presented. The method attempts to build an image that could be obtained with a transducer array aperture larger than that physically available. We consider two images of the same object obtained with two different apertures, the full aperture and a subaperture, of the same transducer. A suitable artificial neural network (ANN) is trained to reproduce the relationship between the image obtained with the transducer full aperture and the image obtained with a subaperture. The inputs of the neural network are portions of the image obtained with the subaperture (low resolution image), and the target outputs are the corresponding portions of the image produced by the full aperture (high resolution image). After the network is trained, it can produce images with almost the same resolution of the full aperture transducer, but using a reduced number of real transducer elements. All computations are carried out on envelope-detected decimated images; for this reason, the computational cost is low and the method is suitable for real-time applications. The proposed method was applied to experimental data obtained with the ultrasound synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT), giving quite promising results. Realtime implementation on a modern, full-digital echographic system is currently being developed.     

Ultrasonic Imaging Algorithms With Limited Transmission Cycles for Rapid Nondestructive Evaluation

Imaging algorithms recently developed in ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) have shown good potential for defect characterization. Many of them are based on the concept of collecting the full matrix of data, obtained by firing each element of an ultrasonic phased array independently, while collecting the data with all elements. Because of the finite sound velocity in the test structure, 2 consecutive firings must be separated by a minimum time interval. Depending on the number of elements in a given array, this may become problematic if data must be collected within a short time, as it is often the case, for example, in an industrial context. An obvious way to decrease the duration of data capture is to use a sparse transmit aperture, in which only a restricted number of elements are used to transmit ultrasonic waves. This paper compares 2 approaches aimed at producing an image on the basis of restricted data: the common source method and the effective aperture technique. The effective aperture technique is based on the far-field approximation, and no similar approach exists for the near-field. This paper investigates the performance of this technique in near-field conditions, where most NDT applications are made. First, these methods are described and their point spread functions are compared with that of the total focusing method (TFM), which consists of focusing the array at every point in the image. Then, a map of efficiency is given for the different algorithms in the nearfield. The map can be used to select the most appropriate algorithm. Finally, this map is validated by testing the different algorithms on experimental data.     

A facet ensemble approach for evaluation of array performance inultrasonic NDE

The use of ultrasonic array systems, in conjunction with a synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) has recognized potential for flaw characterization in nondestructive evaluation (NDE). However, defect type, location, orientation and geometrical constraints imposed by the test specimen can reduce the effectiveness of nonoptimal array systems. To assist with design, a simulation approach for evaluation of array performance for NDE imaging was developed and is described in this paper. In the development of the model, several key factors were identified as being critical in defining the response of a linear ultrasonic transducer array. These include the ultrasonic wavelet generated by each array element, the directivity of the transducers and the interaction of the ultrasonic wave field with the surface which is to be imaged. Following several simplifying assumptions, and employing a linear systems approach, the cumulative response of all these factors was formulated. Thus a low-cost, yet powerful, interactive model for system design evaluation could be implemented. To illustrate the model, a range of simulation results is presented, concerning the imaging of a fatigue crack in a solid medium. The influence of array element spacing and centre frequency is considered, in conjunction with aperture size, defect orientation and surface roughness. In each case, the principal factors governing final image quality are discussed and where possible, recommendations are made concerning array design and imaging strategy