Elastodynamic guided wave scattering in infinite plates

The scattering of elastic guided waves by defects in two‐dimensional infinite plates is analysed in the plane and antiplane cases, corresponding, respectively, to Lamb and SH modes. A hybrid boundary element–finite element technique is used, where the defect neighbourhood is discretized with quadratic boundary elements and the radiation condition in the plate is satisfied through a normal mode expansion. A semi‐analytical finite element technique is applied in the infinite plate to calculate its dispersion curves and normal modes. This hybrid technique, which showed excellent performance in the solution of Lamb wave reflection at the edge of semi‐infinite plates, is extended in this paper to a wider range of problems, such as Lamb mode scattering by delaminations and surface defects and SH mode interaction with step discontinuities. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of ultrasonic guided wave mode conversion in a plate with thickness variation

The hybrid boundary element method aimed at analyzing Lamb wave scattering from defects can provide us with an excellent numerical tool for tackling complicated mode conversion phenomena under waveguide thickness variation. In this paper, utilization of hybrid boundary element modeling for specific Lamb wave mode incidence situations with special energy distributions along the structural cross section is proposed for estimating reflection and transmission from various scatterers, such as a step discontinuity and tapered parts of a waveguide, etc. Interaction of individual Lamb wave modes with scatterers that represent arbitrary thickness variation along the direction of guided wave propagation is investigated by calculating the scattered fields for varying incident modes, frequency, and scatterer shape. The mode conversion phenomena through step discontinuity in a plate are also experimentally explored. The theoretical predictions of reflection and transmission by boundary element methods and the utility of dispersion curves are compared with experiments for specific modes. Results in this paper can be used to improve inspection sensitivity and penetration power for a variety of practical NDE applications, notably those in which thickness variation is found. In addition, the feasibility of inspecting sections located behind a waveguide thickness variation region and subsequent mode control will also be discussed.     

Analysis of Rayleigh-Lamb wave scattering by a crack in an elastic plate

This paper considers the scattering of low-frequency elastic waves by a crack in a plate. A simple formula is derived for the reflection coefficient which serves as a lower bound to the reflection coefficient at higher frequencies.     

SH导波在钢板缺陷检测中的传播特性

水平剪切(Shear Horizontal,SH)导波在传播的过程中有对称模式和反对称模式,其相速度和群速度主要取决于试件的厚度和频率之积(频厚积)。利用COMSOL有限元分析软件,建立了钢板缺陷的3-D模型,仿真分析了SH0导波在钢板中的传播特性。仿真结果表明SH波在传播过程中很少发生波束方向的改变,无频散和模式转换,信噪比高。利用电磁超声方法激励SH波,对钢板中的裂纹和焊缝缺陷进行了实验,验证了仿真结果的正确性及可行性,为超声导波在板材缺陷检测中的应用提供基础。     

金属薄板中导波的模态识别和波速测定

按照Lamb波理论,板内导波由多阶对称波和反对称波组成。当波长远大于板厚时,利用经典平板理论对Lamb方程进行简化,此时板内主要有零阶对称波S0和反对称波A0两种模态。认识薄板内声波模态,不仅有助于分析声源性质,提取有效信号,而且可以提高声发射检测中时差定位的准确性。利用PAC公司的Fieldcal标准信号发生器和Nielsen Hsu断铅法作为信号源在0.7 mm薄钢板上进行声波传播实验。通过比较实测波速和理论波速甄别板内的声波模态。实验发现对称波S0实测波速和理论波速比较吻合,而反对称波A0的波速由于频散而较难精确测量。综合两种模态波的波速情况,声发射检测中利用对称波速度进行声源定位计算更加接近薄壁结构声波的传播状况。     

板状构件粘结强度的非线性超声导波检测

相较于铆接、螺接、焊接等连接方式,板状粘结构件具有质量轻、应力分布均匀等特点,广泛运用于航空航天、车辆制造等工业领域。板状粘结构件在服役过程中出现的粘结强度退化、弱粘结等会影响其服役可靠性及安全性,因此对粘结强度进行检测十分必要。非线性超声导波对材料微观结构特征变化比较敏感,可用于粘结构件的粘结强度检测。采用非线性超声导波对铝合金-环氧树脂-铝合金板状构件进行检测,通过不同的固化工艺制备粘结结构件模拟不同粘结强度,检测结构件中传播的非线性超声导波,计算超声非线性参量,获得超声非线性参量在不同固化工艺下的变化趋势。通过拉伸实验测得粘结强度,进而构建超声非线性参量与粘结强度的关系。实验结果显示,粘结强度越大,超声导波的非线性参量越小。该研究表明,非线性超声导波可有效检测板状构件的粘结强度,为工业检测板状结构粘结强度提供了有效方法。     

应用Poisson板理论求解S0兰姆波在通孔缺陷的散射

为降低3D精确理论散射场求解的复杂性和计算成本,应用Poisson板理论描述面内波模式,给出了S0波在各向同性板中受通孔散射的近似模型。该理论利用波函数展开技术以及孔边缘的边界条件,得到了S0和SH0模式的散射远场。将Poisson板理论与3D精确理论进行比较,两者在低频情况下具有较好的一致性。考察了两个基本导波模式在不同尺寸孔的散射特性,发现它们的散射波幅值在某些散射方向随孔径呈线性变换,该结果为兰姆波无损评价提供了依据。     

Ultrasonic guided waves in bone

Recent progress in quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has shown increasing interest toward measuring long bones by ultrasonic guided waves. This technology is widely used in the field of nondestructive testing and evaluation of different waveguide structures. Cortical bone provides such an elastic waveguide and its ability to sustain loading and resist fractures is known to be related to its mechanical properties at different length scales. Because guided waves could yield diverse characterizations of the bone's mechanical properties at the macroscopic level, the method of guided waves has a strong potential over the standardized bone densitometry as a tool for bone assessment. Despite this, development of guided wave methods is challenging, e.g., due to interferences and rnultiparametric inversion problems. This paper discusses the promises and challenges related to bone characterization by ultrasonic guided waves.     

Omnidirectional guided wave inspection of large metallic plate structures using an EMAT array

The design of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) array device for the inspection of large areas of metallic plate-like structures using the S0 guided wave mode is described. The reasons for using the S0 mode are discussed and it is shown how the choice of mode determines the nature of the EMAT array elements. A novel array construction technique is shown to be necessary whereby the EMAT coils for adjacent elements are overlapped in order to achieve the required element density. Results are presented that illustrate the operation of the device on steel and aluminum plate specimens in the thickness range from 5 to 10 mm. An area of at least 10 m2 can be inspected from a single location. Spurious signals in the results are caused both by the unwanted A0 mode and by S0 sidelobes, the latter occurring at the same radial distance from the array as the genuine S0 signal from a reflector, but in the wrong direction. The signal-to-coherent noise performance of the complete system is determined by the amplitude ratio of the largest genuine S0 signal to the largest spurious signal. This is typically around 30 dB. The sensitivity of the device to artificial defects and genuine corrosion patches is demonstrated and the limitations of its operation are discussed. The feasibility of using the device with the S1 guided wave mode to inspect a 20 mm thick plate is also demonstrated.     

超薄弹性层超声反射波频域测厚法

为了克服超声体积波测量方法只适用于测试厚度大于声波波长的弹性层的缺点,提出了频域相对传递函数法测量超薄弹性层的厚度的新方法.在推导超薄弹性层相对反射传递函数的基础上,用相对反射传递函数幅度谱、相位谱和复谱定征超薄弹性的厚度,分析了影响估计准确性的各种因素,研究了相对反射传递函数对厚度的灵敏度函数在误差传递中的意义.实验结果表明:相对传递函数法能够测量厚度为波长百分之一的铝薄层的厚度,相对误差小于2.5%,其中用幅度谱定征得到的结果最准确.这表明相对传递函数法可以有效地测量超薄弹性层的厚度,在实际应用中更加实用,其定征的准确性主要由相对传递函数对厚度灵敏度函数和测量误差共同决定.     

Transient wave propagation in a viscoelastic sandwich plate

Summary This paper examines the propagation of coupled P and S waves in a three layer sandwich plate consisting of a viscoelastic core bounded by identical elastic outer layers. The waves are initiated by an impulsive normal line load applied to the upper surface of the plate. The response of the top surface is computed for various values of the creep and relaxation time constants of the core. The results indicate that, for some values of the time constants, the viscoelastic core provides effective damping of the transients, while for others the damping is virtually non-existent. In each case the dominant contribution to the far-field solution comes from the Rayleigh wave.     

基于频域合成孔径聚焦的输电线路钢管杆超声导波成像检测

输电线路钢管杆结构是一种带有拔梢斜度的大口径薄壁管,超声导波周向B扫描检测传感器激发的超声导波在钢管杆传播过程中存在波束扩散现象。为了解决钢管杆超声导波检测过程中波束扩散导致周向检测分辨率降低的问题,提出了一种钢管杆超声导波频域合成孔径聚焦方法(Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique, SAFT)。采用文中构建的超声导波合成孔径成像检测装置对直径为608 mm 的钢管杆进行超声导波扫查,可获得周B扫描图像和频域合成孔径聚焦图像。对比钢管杆周向B扫描图像和频域合成孔径聚焦图像,频域合成孔径聚焦图像中散射体和通孔的周向检测分辨率明显优于B扫描图像,文章提出的钢管杆超声导波频域合成孔径聚焦方法能够显著改善超声导波周向检测分辨率。     

Omni-directional guided wave transducer arrays for the rapid inspection of large areas of plate structures

Omni-directional guided wave array transducers contain a circular pattern of elements that individually behave as omni-directional point transmitters or receivers. The data set acquired from such an array contains time-domain signals from each permutation of transmitter and receiver. A phased addition algorithm is developed that allows an omni-directional, B-scan image of the surrounding plate to be synthesized from any geometry of array. Numerically simulated data from a single reflector is used to test the performance of the algorithm. The results from an array containing a fully populated circular area of elements (Type I array) are found to be good, but those from an array containing a single ring of elements (Type II array) contain many large side-lobes. An enhancement to the basic phased addition algorithm is presented that uses deconvolution to suppress these side-lobes. The deconvolution algorithm enables a Type II array to equal the performance of a Type I array of the same overall diameter. The effect of diameter on angular resolution is investigated. Experimental data obtained from a guided wave array containing electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) elements for exciting and detecting the S/sub 0/ Lamb wave mode in a 5-mm thick aluminium plate are processed with both algorithms and the results are discussed.     

Ultrasonic scattering from cancellous bone: a review

This paper reviews theory, measurements, and computer simulations of scattering from cancellous bone reported by many laboratories. Three theoretical models (binary mixture, Faran cylinder, and weak scattering) for scattering from cancellous bone have demonstrated some consistency with measurements of backscatter. Backscatter is moderately correlated with bone mineral density in human calcaneus in vitro (r(2) = 0.66 - 0.68). Backscatter varies approximately as frequency cubed and trabecular thickness cubed in human calcaneus and femur in vitro. Backscatter from human calcaneus and bovine tibia exhibits substantial anisotropy. So far, backscatter has demonstrated only modest clinical utility. Computer simulation models have helped to elucidate mechanisms underlying scattering from cancellous bones.     

Second-order wave interaction with a vertical plate

The second-order interaction of monochromatic water waves with a rigid vertical plate is investigated numerically and experimentally. The plate has a finite width and is projected from one of the side-walls of a wave-tank. This geometry reduces the wave cases to normal incidence but permits a semi-analytical resolution based on eigenfunction expansions. Obtained numerical results are shown to be insensitive to the width of the tank beyond some value, and to converge quickly with the truncation orders of the expansions, in spite of the second-order potential having a logarithmic singularity at the plate edge. Second-order free-surface elevations are compared with values derived from experimental measurements at the BGO-First offshore wave-tank. Good agreement is reported. It is with much pleasure and admiration for his achievements that we dedicate this work to Nick Newman.     

The quantum noise of guided wave acoustic Brillouin scattering with applications to continuous-variable quantum key distribution

The spectra and optical quantum state of guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering in optical fibers are measured. Spectra from 0.95 to 2?GHz are obtained with amplitude resolution as sensitive as 0.01 shot noise unit. Quantum homodyne tomography measurements confirm the thermal quantum statistics of guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering, which is useful knowledge in the context of experimental continuous-variable quantum key distribution.     

Ultrasonic wave scattering from rough,imperfect interfaces. Part I. Stochastic interface models

A theoretical model for ultrasonic wave scattering by geometrically irregular and imperfectly bonded interfaces is presented. In Part I, the normal stiffness of interfaces formed by the partial contact of solids with rough surfaces is estimated for two models of contacting surfaces with random roughness in one dimension only. The first model considers nonconforming surfaces with a single-scale of roughness, while double-scale roughness characterizes the surfaces of the second model, which are conforming at the large scale and nonconforming at the smaller scale. The surfaces' profiles are described by Gaussian probability and spectral densities. The surfaces at each contact are modeled by two cylinders under a compressive load and the normal stiffness per unit area of the interface is evaluated by averaging the stiffness of all the contacts, assuming they do not interact with each other. It is shown that the smaller the roughness, the softer the interface; the larger the autocorrelation length, the softer the interface; and the smaller the initial aperture, the stiffer the interface. Furthermore, interfaces described by the second model appear much stiffer than those described by the first model. The interface characterizations and normal stiffness models developed in Part I will be used in Part II to study the scattering of ultrasonic plane waves by such an interface.     

Elastic guided wave propagation in electrical cables

This article analyzes the propagation modes of ultrasound waves inside an electrical cable in order to assess its behavior as an acoustic transmission channel. A theoretical model for propagation of elastic waves in electric power cables is presented. The power cables are represented as viscoelastic-layered cylindrical structures with a copper core and a dielectric cover. The model equations then have been applied and numerically resolved for this and other known structures such as solid and hollow cylinders. The results are compared with available data from other models. Several experimental measures were carried out and were compared with results from the numerical simulations. Experimental and simulated results showed a significant difference between elastic wave attenuation inside standard versus bare, low-voltage power cables.