Determination of the reflector type from an image reconstructed using echo signals measured with ultrasonic antenna arrays

The application of the digital image focusing (DFA) method to the determination of the types of detected reflectors is considered. For this purpose two antenna arrays (AAs) are used, which are placed on opposite sides of the reflector and using which echo signals are recorded in three acoustic channels in the double-scanning mode. The first and second acoustic channels transmit and receive echo signals using the first and second AA, respectively, and the third channel is tuned so that the first AA transmits pulses and the second AA receives echo signals. Using signals in each channel, many partial images can be reconstructed in a common coordinate system according to different acoustic schemes with allowance for both multiple reflections from irregular boundaries of a tested object and effects of transformation of the wave types. Combining partial images makes it possible to obtain a high-quality image, in which the entire boundary of the reflector is seen and using which an attempt to automate the procedure of evaluating the reflector size and determining its type was made. Such an approach allows one to reduce the subjective influence of an operator on the testing results. It is shown that in order to increase the image resolution, the spectrum of echo signals can be extrapolated by the spectrum splitting method jointly with the construction of an AR model of their spectrum. The results of model experiments that confirm the possibility of determining the reflector type are presented.     

Finite-Difference Time Domain Method. Calculating Echo Signals in Homogeneous Isotropic Materials

The method of finite differences in time domain (FDTD) can be used to calculate echo signals in numerical ultrasonic-inspection experiments. As the FDTD method is based on the explicit numerical solution of the wave equation for elastic medium, it can be used to take account of the emergence of a run round wave on a bulk reflector, the effects of a longitudinal wave transforming into a lateral one in the scattering of ultrasound on a crack, and rescattering of pulses between reflectors and test object boundaries. Numerical solution of the vector wave equation by the FDTD method, in contrast to the modelling methods based on the theory of ray tubes, enables a more accurate modeling of ultrasonic inspection results. In this article, three options are considered for suppressing pulse reflections from computational grid boundaries. Calculating the direct problem of the propagation of elastic vibrations through a solid body by the FDTD method may prove useful when solving the inverse coefficient problem of nondestructive ultrasonic inspection.     

Two approaches to the solution of problems of ultrasonic flaw metering: Analysis of a high-quality image of reflectors and correlation analysis of measured echo signals

The problem of ultrasonic flaw metering consists in the obtainment of information on the reflector type, its dimensions, and the coordinates of its location. As the accuracy of determining the parameters of a discontinuity increases, the results of ultrasonic testing become more reliable. A highquality image of reflectors, which is reconstructed using the C-SAFT method with consideration for multiple reflections of pulses from the boundaries of a test object that makes it possible to determine the types and dimensions of reflectors, can be considered as one of the tools of flaw metering. However, the C-SAFT method disregards the features of reflections from discontinuities with nonuniform scattering indicatrices. As a development of flaw-metering methods, it is proposed to determine the parameters of a discontinuity from the results of comparison of the measured echo signals and estimated echo signals, which are calculated as functions of the discontinuity parameters. The results of using the proposed methods of ultrasonic flaw metering in numerical and model experiments, which demonstrate the working capacity of the proposed approach, are presented.     

Increasing Rate of Recording of Echo Signals with Ultrasonic Antenna Array using Optimum Sparsing of Switching Matrix with a Genetic Algorithm

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - To increase the speed of recording of echo signals and increase the speed of reconstruction of the image of reflectors, it is proposed to use a sparse...     

Method of Finite Differences in Time Domain. Calculating Echo Signals in Anisotropic Inhomogeneous Materials,Pattern Noise

When developing ultrasonic testing techniques for such complex objects as composite welds, the method of finite differences in time domain (FDTD) can be used to calculate echo signals in numerical experiments. Since the FDTD method is based on explicit numerical solution of the wave equation for an elastic medium, it can be used to take account of such effects as the emergence of a run round wave on a volume reflector, the transformation of a longitudinal wave into a lateral one under scattering of ultrasound by a crack, and the rescattering of pulses between reflectors and test-object boundaries. Applying the FDTD method to modeling the propagation of ultrasound in the sample with a high pattern noise and in the samples made of anisotropic inhomogeneous materials is substantiated. The FDTD calculation of the direct problem of propagation of elastic vibrations in a solid may prove useful when solving the inverse problem of ultrasonic nondestructive testing.     

Reducing the Level of Weakly Changing Noise by the Decorrelation Method during Ultrasonic Monitoring Using Antenna Arrays

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - In ultrasonic testing with antenna arrays, the measured echo signals may contain interference echo signals that, after reconstructing the image of...     

Reconstruction of the images of reflectors from ultrasonic echo signals using the maximum-entropy method

It is proposed to use the maximum-entropy method (MEM) for processing ultrasonic echo signals for reconstructing images of reflectors with a high signal-to-noise ratio and a low level of “side lobes” of the point-scattering function. When processing echo signals, the pulse-propagation paths can be considered taking reflections from irregular boundaries of a tested object with the wave-type transformation into account. In model experiments, images of reflectors were obtained taking the refractions of rays at the rough surface into account, when echo signals were recorded both using an ordinary single-element transducer in the transceiver mode and an antenna array that recorded echo signals in the double- and triple-scanning modes. The reconstructed images have a resolution that exceeds the resolution according to the Rayleigh criterion. The MEM makes it possible to obtain images of flaws with low-level side lobes, when less than 10% of the complete set of echo signals are used.     

Increasing the Rate of Recording Echo Signals with an Ultrasonic Antenna Array Using Code Division Multiple Access Technology

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - The disadvantage of using the digital focusing with an antenna (DFA) method to produce an image of reflectors is a large volume of echo signals and an...     

超声波传输时间精密测量方法及应用研究

根据超声波回波信号是一个变幅周期性信号这一特点,提出一种用数字细分来精密测量超声波传输时间的方法,阐明了超声波换能器驱动电路原理及利用FPGA电路和高分辨率A/D电路通过高频采样来实现这一方法的原理,并采用该方法和电路设计了超声波流量计。指出超声波传输时间测量的分辨率取决于超声波信号的频率和A/D电路的分辨率,为保证测量精度,应尽可能采用较高的采样频率。超声波传输时间的测量综合了全部回波信号采样数据,有很好的可靠性和很强的抗干扰能力。     

Determining the Speed of Longitudinal Waves in an Isotropic Homogeneous Welded Joint Using Echo Signals Measured by Two Antenna Arrays

A technique is proposed for measuring the speed of longitudinal ultrasonic waves in a homogeneous welded joint, based on comparing measured and computed echo signals reflected from the bottom of a test object when using two antenna arrays mounted on prisms and operating in the double scanning mode. The effect of errors in setting the values of such parameters as the distance between the antenna arrays, test-object thickness, and others on the accuracy of calculating the wave velocity in the weld has been analyzed. Results of numerical and model experiments on calculating the wave velocity in the welded joint are presented. In a model experiment, the technique has made it possible to measure the speed of longitudinal waves in the weld model with an error of less than 0.7%. The method can be used to find the initial approximation in a nonlinear inverse problem of tomographic inspection of welded joints in the wave approximation.     

An electromagnetic model of a piezoelectric transducer

A one-dimensional electromechanical model of a piezoelectric transducer, which reproduces excitation of ultrasonic pulses in a product, reception of echo signals, and calculation of waves in all its elements (damper, protector, piezoelectric element, contact-liquid layer, etc.), is considered. The results of calculations of electric and wave processes in a normal ultrasonic transducer, when it operates jointly with a generator of probing pulses, are presented. Good agreement between the calculation and experimental results is demonstrated.     

Applying Compression Recognition Method to Achieve Superresolution of Echo Signals

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - The possibility of using the method of compressive sensing (CS) to increase the resolution of echo signals is investigated. For comparison with the CS...     

On the calculation of characteristics of echo signals of transverse and longitudinal waves from reflectors with flat surfaces

On the basis of an earlier developed model on scattering of transverse waves at a crack in the form of a strip, exact and approximate (estimated) scattering indicatrices for transverse and longitudinal elastic waves are studied, taking into account the influence of their transformation at the flat free surface of a reflector into other wave types on the change in the echo-signal amplitude. The limits of applicability of the estimated indicatrices for mirror and back reflections are numerically studied. The exact results for longitudinal waves are compared to those obtained by the Kirchhoff method.     

Restoring the image of reflectors using the C-SAFT method during multiple reflection of echo signals from the boundaries of a cylindrical inspection object

A modified method of combined SAFT (C-SAFT) for restoring the images of reflectors is considered; it allows the multiple reflection of a pulse from the boundaries of the wall of a cylindrical inspection object. To verify the efficiency of the proposed algorithm, images of a crack were restored from echo signals that were calculated using the CIVA software package, which is intended for modeling the propagation and scattering of ultrasonic pulses. It was shown in a model experiment that the consideration of changes in the pulse phase during reflection from the inspection-object boundaries at various incident angles of an S-wave in the image-restoration algorithm increases the frontal resolution by more than two times. The consideration of five reflections from the inspection-object boundaries made it possible to obtain images of reflectors by the M-C-SAFT method using many acoustic schemes. The images allow one to determine the type of defects, as well as their dimensions and location in the depth of the wall of a pipeline that is 720 mm in diameter.     

The calibration of an ultrasonic antenna array installed on a wedge

A method that is proposed for calibrating an antenna array that is installed on a wedge provides refinement of the coordinates of the centers of piezoelectric elements. Precise knowledge of the coordinates will make it possible to obtain images in which reflections from reflectors will coincide with their actual positions with an accuracy no worse than a half wavelength. The calibration principle involves the minimization of the objective function that describes the difference between the antenna-array-measured echo signals from a 2-mm-diameter side drilled hole (SDH) at a depth of 12 mm and the calculated echo signals from the same hole. The algorithm operation was tested for echo signals calculated in the CIVA program. The calibration results for several antenna arrays on wedges and images of an SDH are presented, which were obtained using the method for digital antenna-array focusing (DAAF) for various acoustic systems.     

Obtaining flaw images by the SAFT method taking the variable velocity of sound in a test object into account

A modification of the SAFT method for obtaining flaw images in test objects containing three regions with different velocities of sound (SV) is proposed. Complex composite welded joints and repair welds are classified as objects in which the SV in a welded joint may differ from the velocity in a parent metal by >5%; therefore, a high-quality image of flaws can be obtained by taking different SVs into account. To solve this problem, a method for obtaining a test object with three regions with different SVs is proposed. The delays of propagating ultrasonic pulses were calculated using the Fermat principle. The results of reconstructing flaw images in a 300 welded joint from echo signals obtained as a result of numerical simulation by the finite-element method are presented. The images obtained by the SAFT method without taking different SVs into account are displaced from their true position, thus they do not allow determination of their coordinates and location. Consideration of different SVs allows one to obtain unshifted reflections of flaw images and, hence, evaluate the types and dimensions of flaws more accurately.     

基于自适应LMS的导波雷达液位计回波识别与校正

非平稳及多奇异点的雷达回波信号包含虚假回波,影响液位回波信号的识别与液位测量.为解决雷达液位计的虚假回波干扰问题,提高液位识别与测量精度,提出一种回波识别与校正方法.将短时幅度函数与短时过零率函数结合,利用函数逐帧地对回波信号计算,识别液位回波信号;通过自适应最小均方误差进行系统的权矢量迭代,更新权系数,对回波信号进行处理,进行抑制虚假回波干扰.实验结果表明:该方法能够准确识别液位回波信号;液位测量精度可达到0.42％F.S,相比于其他去噪方法,该方法在抑制噪声的同时能较好地保留信号奇异性特征,有较好的鲁棒性.     

Analysis of signals observed from the lateral surface during ultrasonic testing of a cylindrical article with a normal probe

The signals (up to the second bottom signal) observed from the lateral surface during ultrasonic testing of a cylindrical article with a normal probe are studied. The amplitude of the second bottom pulse is compared with that of the first bottom pulse. It is shown that one of the observed pulses is due to the rereflection of a longitudinal wave from a cylindrical surface in the cross-sectional plane that passes through the probes center, while the other pulse is due to the twofold reflection of an elastic wave with mutual transformation of longitudinal and transverse waves.Translated from Defektoskopiya, Vol. 40, No. 11, 2004, pp. 3–14.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Danilov.     

磁致伸缩式扭转超声波位移传感器的研究与设计

介绍磁致伸缩式扭转超声波位移传感器的工作原理及设计机制。该传感器利用磁致伸缩的Wiedeman效应发射扭转波，利用磁致伸缩逆效应接收回波信号，根据发射脉冲与回波信号的时间差计算活动磁铁的位置，由于磁致伸缩材料和扭转波传播的特性，以及测量电路对于精确测时功能的实现，使和该传感器同时具有精度高，成本低，寿命长和安装简便，适用范围宽等优点。     

空间激光主动探测离轴三反系统的猫眼效应

采用光线追迹法,分析了空间环境下离轴三反结构系统的猫眼效应。给出了离轴三反系统的像面倾斜、视场和离焦对猫眼回波效率和发散角的影响,证明了离轴三反系统像面倾斜量是决定能否发生猫眼效应的主要因素。提出利用阈值法实现激光主动探测猫眼信号的基本原理,并结合高阶余弦漫反射模型,分析了目标漫反射信号对猫眼信号检测的影响。估算了20km到120km探测距离下,理论上所需不同光束质量激光的最小脉冲能量。仿真表明,当发射光束的全角发散角为0.3mrad时,50km和120km探测距离下所需的最小激光脉冲能量分别为0.7mJ和3.1mJ。最后,通过原理实验,验证了空间激光主动探测法探测目标"猫眼"效应的可行性。