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In recent years, there has been increasing attention on the development of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods using guided waves for long-length materials such as thin plates and pipes. The guided waves are capable of long-distance propagation in thin plates and pipes, and they exhibit properties such as multimodality and dispersion. These characteristics of the guided waves make inspection using guided waves challenging. In this study, we apply a 2-D elastodynamic time-reversal method to detect surface breaking cracks of a thin plate where guided waves are present. The finite element method (FEM) is used to calculate the scattered waves from surface breaking cracks and their corresponding time-reversal waves. We also employ topological sensitivity as an assessment index for detecting surface breaking cracks using the time-reversal method. As numerical examples, we demonstrate guided wave propagation, scattering, and the time-reversal wave propagation obtained by using the FEM. Finally, we present the results of surface breaking crack detection in a thin plate and discuss the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method.

The structure of soils is often heterogeneous with layered strata having distinct permeabilities. An advanced mathematical and numerical coupled model of elastic wave propagation in poroelastic multi-layered soils subjected to subsoil water infiltration is proposed in this study. The coupled model was based on the introduction of an inhomogeneous functionally graded fluid-saturation of the considered soil depending on the infiltration time, which was evaluated employing Richards’ equation. The time-harmonic solution was formulated in terms of the Fourier transform of Green’s matrix and the surface load that excites the vibration. The convergence and efficiency of the proposed approach are demonstrated. An example of dispersion curves for partially saturated porous strata made of loam, sand, and rock at different infiltration times is provided, and it is shown that the characteristics of the surface acoustic waves change with time, which can be further used for inverse problems’ solution.

Multi-layered composite materials are being used in various engineering fields, such as aerospace, automobile, and wind energy, because of their superior material properties. Due to various impact loads during the service life of composite structures, different types of defects can occur, such as matrix cracking, fiber breakage, delaminations, etc. In this research, a novel SHM technique for delamination detection and localization using a minimum number of sensors is proposed. The analytical, numerical, and experimental analysis of GW was performed to increase the probability of detection and localization of delaminations in CFRP material. A new analytical model was developed, which enables identifying converted and transmitted modes in the presence of multiple GW modes. A 2D FFT-based spatial filtering was used to filter the GW modes. The dominant A0 mode was separated to inspect the delamination. Phase velocity is one of the important features in GW inspection to localize the delamination. A phase spectrum approach was developed to reconstruct the phase velocity dispersion of the GW modes in case material properties are unknown.

Statistical based reconstruction methods and signal processing tooling techniques are implemented and used to detect delaminations or debondings within composite complex items with very high precision. From the literature, it appears that although a single procedure for the estimation of structural health is a fast solution, multiple analyses based on different reconstruction methods or different damage parameters are the way to achieve maturation assessments of the methodology. This highlights the fact that the hardware and software parts of an SHM system need two different assessment and maturation ways. This work focuses on the software part by proposing a way to start assessing the outcomes. In this paper, the damage detection and localization strategy in CFRP plate-like structures with elastic guided waves excited and acquired with a circular array PWAS network is considered. Previous outcomes are compared by new analyses using a new post-processing approach based on a cross-correlation-based technique in terms of the BVID (Barely Visible Impact Damage) surface position and its center of mass. The advantage of this specific study is hopefully to enable confidence in the transition from R&D to field implementation. In addition, this work tries to evidence an improvement in terms of cost efficiency and reduced complexity while maintaining the same accuracy.

Steel strands are widely used in structures such as bridge cables, and their integrity is critical to keeping these structures safe. A steel strand is under the working condition of an alternating load for a long time, and fatigue damage is unavoidable. It is necessary to find characteristic parameters for evaluating fatigue damage. In this study, nonlinear coefficients and attenuation coefficients were employed to evaluate fatigue damage based on magnetostrictive guided wave testing. Unlike pipe and steel wire structures, there is a phenomenon of a notch frequency when guided waves propagate in steel strands. The influence of the notch frequency on the nonlinear coefficient and attenuation coefficient is discussed. The relationship between the nonlinear coefficient, attenuation coefficient, and cyclic loading times was obtained through experiments. The amplitudes of the nonlinear coefficient and attenuation coefficient both increased with the increase in cyclic loading times. The experiments also showed the effectiveness of using these two characteristic parameters to evaluate fatigue damage.

The capabilities of detection and localization of damage in a structure, using a guided wave-based structural health monitoring (GWSHM) system, depend on the damage location and the chosen sensor array setup. This paper presents a novel approach to assess the reliability of an SHM system enabling to quantify localization accuracy. A two-step technique is developed to combine multiple paths to generate one probability of detection (POD) curve that provides information regarding the detection capability of an SHM system at a defined damage position. Moreover, a new method is presented to analyze localization accuracy. Established probability-based diagnostic imaging using a signal correlation algorithm is used to determine the damage location. The resultant output of the localization accuracy analysis is the smallest damage size at which a defined accuracy level can be reached at a determined location. The proposed methods for determination of detection probability and localization accuracy are applied to a plate-like CFRP structure with an omega stringer with artificial damage of different sizes at different locations. The results show that the location of the damage influences the sensitivity of detection and localization accuracy for the used detection and localization methods. Localization accuracy is enhanced as it becomes closer to the array’s center, but its detection sensitivity deteriorates.

The tunable manipulation of guided waves in plates brings out great potential applications in engineering practices, and the electromechanical coupling effects of piezoelectric material with shunting circuits have exhibited powerful tunability and flexibility for guided wave propagation. In this paper, a theoretical model is established to analyze the guided wave propagation in one-dimensional periodic piezoelectric plate constructed from a periodic array of anisotropic piezoelectric materials under periodic electrical boundary conditions. The extended Stroh formalism incorporating with the plane wave expansion method is developed to transform the wave motion equations of the periodic piezoelectric plate into a linear eigenvalue system, and a more concise and elegant solution of generalized displacement and generalized stress can be derived. There are various dispersion relations in terms of the altering electrical boundary conditions to be acquired, if the thin electrodes with shunting circuits are attached periodically to both surfaces of the piezoelectric plate. Analytical results show that the coupling of the local electric resonant mode and propagating elastic wave modes can induce hybridization bandgaps, and the bandgaps of Lamb waves and SH waves in the piezoelectric plate can be tuned by designing appropriate material polarization orientations and shunting circuits. In addition, the Bragg bandgaps can also be influenced by the external circuits. Results indicate that the proposed theoretical model can effectively analyze the performances of guided waves in periodic piezoelectric plate and provide useful theoretical guidance for designing smart wave control devices.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems may allow a reduction in maintenance costs and extend the lifetime of the structure. As a result, they are of interest to the research community. Ideally, the SHM methods should be low cost, while being able to detect and localize small levels of damage reliably and accurately. The fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are light in weight, insensitive to electric and magnetic fields, and can be embedded. The edge filtering configuration for transduction allows the use of FBG for guided wave (GW) sensing. This sensitivity may be further enhanced through their application in the remote bonded configuration. This paper provides a proof-of-concept for the use of remotely bonded FBG for damage localization. In order to improve the computational efficiency, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) based algorithm is developed. The PSO allows a significant improvement in the computation time which makes it better suited for real-time damage localization. The proposed objective function is based on the exponential elliptical approach. First, the suitability of the PSO for damage localization is shown. Then the performance of the chosen objective function is compared with the brute-force algorithm as well as other objective functions found in the literature. The methodology is employed on a simple aluminum plate. The results indicate that indeed the objective function along with the PSO is suitable for damage localization. Also as the objective function is developed taking into consideration the specific challenges with the use of FBG sensors, performs better than the other objective functions as well as the brute force algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-contact (air-coupled) transducers have been increasingly used for structural health monitoring (SHM), along with the traditional method of ultrasonic guided wave excitation and registration by an array of piezoelectric wafer active sensors. The development and successful application of such diagnostic systems are based on the mathematical and computer modeling of the wave processes occurring here. This paper deals with the models based on the integral and asymptotic representations of excited waves through the Fourier symbol of Green's matrix of the coupled system source–acoustic environment–elastic waveguide. Compared to traditional finite element simulation, the developed models have advantages such as low computational costs, the visibility of the wave structure, and the ability to solve the problems of selective mode excitation and maximization by choosing the optimally tilted transducer and central frequency. The verification of the developed model and choice of the optimal parameters for the source operation are illustrated by numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common clamp-on ultrasonic flow meters consist of two single-element transducers placed on the pipe wall. Flow speed is measured noninvasively, i.e., without interrupting the flow and without perforating the pipe wall, which also minimizes safety risks and avoids pressure drops inside the pipe. However, before metering, the transducers have to be carefully positioned along the pipe axis to correctly align the acoustic beams and obtain a well-calibrated flowmeter. This process is done manually, is dependent on the properties of the pipe and the liquid, does not account for pipe imperfections, and becomes troublesome on pipelines with an intricate shape. Matrix transducer arrays are suitable to dynamically steer acoustic beams and realize self-alignment upon reception, without user input. In this work, the design of a broadband $37\times 17$ matrix array (center frequency of 1 MHz) to perform clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurements over a wide range of liquids (${c}=1000-2000$ m/s, $\alpha \leq 1$ dB/MHz $\cdot $ cm) and pipe sizes is presented. Three critical aspects were assessed: efficiency, electronic beam steering, and wave mode conversion in the pipe wall. A prototype of a proof-of-concept flowmeter consisting of two 36-element linear arrays (center frequency of 1.1 MHz) was fabricated and placed on a 1-mm-thick, 40-mm inner diameter stainless steel pipe in a custom-made flow loop filled with water. At resonance, simulated and measured efficiencies in water of the linear arrays compared well: 0.88 and 0.81 kPa/V, respectively. Mean flow measurements were achieved by electronic beam steering of the acoustic beams and using both compressional and shear waves generated in the pipe wall. Correlation coefficients of ${R}^{2}>0.99$ between measured and reference flow speeds were obtained, thus showing the operational concept of an array-based clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the degeneracy of the two lowest-order modes of spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) is realized by the surface plasmonic waveguide (SPW), which takes the form of a slotline with glide symmetric dumbbell grooves. It is found that the non-zero group velocity can be observed on the two lowest-order modes at the Brillouin zone boundary of such glide symmetric SPW, which exhibits higher propagation constant of the dispersion relation than conventional non-glide SPW. The dispersion relation of SSPP unit cells when glide symmetric conditions are broken is also calculated and analyzed by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. Finally, a wideband bandpass filter (BPF) based on this glide symmetric waveguide scheme is designed for validating its broadband essential attribute and circuitry function. The experimental and simulation results show good consistency. The proposed glide symmetric SPW may be potential applications in plasmonic devices and wideband leaky-wave antenna at the microwave or THz frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crustal structure and Quaternary fault zone in the Seoul metropolitan area are investigated using a joint inversion that combines the receiver functions with surface wave dispersion based on seismic data from densely deployed seismic arrays. The uncertainty in inverted models is examined through a set of synthetic experiments. Synthetic tests and comparisons with other methods verify the observed crustal features. The Moho depths range between 28.7 and 32.8 km with relatively shallow depths in the central Seoul metropolitan area. The VP/VSratio varies between 1.67 and 1.85. A Conrad discontinuity with a weak velocity increase is present at a depth of ~20 km. Low-velocity anomalies appear at depths of ~3 km and 6-11 km along the Chugaryeong fault zone and fault junction area. Apparent shear wave velocity contrasts appear across the fault zone where earthquakes are clustered. A high-velocity block in the western Seoul metropolitan area lies along the fault zone that runs across western Seoul. The shear wave velocity models and seismicity suggest that the fault zone may extend to a depth of 11 km at least. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mainland region of Gujarat, northwest India, is a less investigated region than other parts of India with a low seismicity rate. An MW >4.7 earthquake has not occurred in this region for 15 yr, and no MW >5.5 events since 1971. We analyze the local earthquake catalog and waveforms to examine dynamic triggering in the region by the 2012 MW 8.6 Indian Ocean earthquake, which triggered widespread seismicity globally. Further detection of possibly missing microearthquakes is conducted by applying the matched filter technique to the waveforms. We identify six microearthquakes (~ML 1.0-2.1) triggered during the surface and coda wave of the 2012 mainshock. Also, an earthquake of MW 2.6 was likely triggered five hours after the mainshock near Bhavnagar city, because the record since 2006 would indicate such a magnitude event to have only a 0.8% chance of occurring independently any given day. Indeed, only 35 earthquakes with MW ≤ 2.5 were recorded since 2006 within a 100 km radius of this city. The -statistics indicate an increase in seismicity and further confirm the triggering. The seismicity rate increased immediately after the 2012 mainshock and continued for three days, indicating a possible delayed triggering. The delayed triggering may be due to the crustal fluid, and/or subcritical crack growth model may be responsible for triggering. Our study suggests that dynamic triggering tends to occur near active faults that have ruptured in ancient times. Other recent earthquakes, for example, 2011 Tohoku-Oki, did not trigger seismicity despite significant peak dynamic stresses values. Investigation of dynamic triggering in regions experiencing infrequent earthquakes can be crucial in understanding the origin of such earthquakes, which can be achieved by grasping the ambient stresses and geodynamic mechanisms in a particular region. Thus, we evaluate character and behavior of high-amplitude surface waves to grasp better the undergoing processes and stress transfer in the intraplate mainland region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of design and optimization for piezoelectric quasi-crystal transducers, guided waves in a functionally graded 1-D hexagonal piezoelectric quasi-crystal plate are investigated. In this paper, a model combined with the Bak's and elastohydrodynamic models is utilized to derive governing equations of wave motion, and real, pure imaginary, and complex roots of governing equations are calculated by using the modified Legendre polynomial method. Subsequently, dispersion curves and displacements of phonon and phason modes are illustrated. Then, guided waves in functionally graded 1-D hexagonal piezoelectric quasi-crystal plates with different quasi-periodic directions are studied. And the phonon-phason coupling effect on Lamb and SH waves are analyzed. Accordingly, some interesting results are obtained: The phonon-phason coupling just affects Lamb waves in the x - and z -direction quasi-crystal plates, and SH waves in the y -direction quasi-crystal plate. Besides, frequencies of propagative phason modes decrease as phonon-phason coupling coefficients Ri increase. Furthermore, a variation in the polarization has a more significant influence on phonon modes, and a variation in the quasi-periodic direction has a more significant influence on phason modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-warping is a signal processing technique that, when applied to an isolated measurement of a transient signal that propagates in a waveguide, allows contributions to that signal from individual mode numbers to be isolated and extracted. Dispersion curves for individual mode numbers can, in turn, be recovered. Isolation of contributions associated with individual mode numbers is possible because after time-warping—a special environmentally dependent non-uniform sampling—is applied, the signal energy corresponding to each mode number is isolated in the frequency spectrum of the time-warped signal. Here we derive the time-warping transform for teleseismic Love waves, assuming the Earth structure is approximately known, and we illustrate the utility of time-warping using both synthetic and measured seismograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health status of bogie directly affects the running quality and safety of metro vehicle. In view of the deficiencies of the existing inspection methods, this paper presents a baseline-free Structural Health Monitoring and management method to address the detection, localization and visualization of cracks in bogie frame using Guided Waves. First, we conduct a finite element simulation of steel bogie frame to determine the center excitation frequency. It helps to settle the mode that sensitive to cracks. And once the crack is detected, we use a wavelet method—Split Spectrum Processing to calculate the Time of Flight. It is more accurate for localization, compared with the traditional method based on Hilbert envelope. Finally, this paper proposes a direct time reversal imaging algorithm, which combine incident Guided Waves signals and reconstructed time-reversed counterparts. The result of practical experiment confirmed that this method could be used for detecting, locating and visualizing cracks in metro vehicle bogie frame accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to no requirement for direct interpretation of the guided wave signal, probability-based diagnostic imaging (PDI) algorithm is especially suitable for damage identification of complex composite structures. However, the weight distribution function of PDI algorithm is relatively inaccurate. It can reduce the damage localization accuracy. In order to improve the damage localization accuracy, an improved PDI algorithm is proposed. In the proposed algorithm, the weight distribution function is corrected by the acquired relative distances from defects to all actuator–sensor pairs and the reduction of the weight distribution areas. The validity of the proposed algorithm is assessed by identifying damages at different locations on a stiffened composite panel. The results show that the proposed algorithm can identify damage of a stiffened composite panel accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the coverage area prediction of piezoelectric sensor network for detecting a specific type of under-surface crack in plate-like structures is addressed. In particular, this article proposes a simplified framework to estimate the coverage of any given sensor network arrangement when a critical defect is known. Based on numerical results from finite element methods (FEM), a simplified framework to estimate coverage area of any given network arrangement is developed. Using such a simplified framework, one can avoid time-consuming procedure of evaluating numerous FEM models in estimating sensor network coverage. Back-scatter fields of partial cracks are estimated using a proposed function, whose parameters are estimated from the results of a limited number of FEM simulations. The proposed function efficiently predicts the back-scattered field of any combination of transmitters and receivers for a given crack geometry. Superposition is used to estimate the coverage area of an arbitrary piezoelectric (e.g., PZT) sensor network. It is shown that the coverage area of a sensor network depends on both sensor network geometry and defect properties (e.g., crack inclination) and it is not necessarily a linear function of the number of sensors. Furthermore, it is shown that the network arrangement has an important effect on the geometry of the coverage area. Experimental results of a network of 14 PZTs in two clusters confirm the accuracy of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental effects are a significant challenge in guided wave structural health monitoring systems. These effects distort signals and increase the likelihood of false alarms. Many research papers have studied mitigation strategies for common variations in guided wave datasets reproducible in a lab, such as temperature and stress. There are fewer studies and strategies for detecting damage under more unpredictable outdoor conditions. This article proposes a long short-term principal component analysis reconstruction method to detect synthetic damage under highly variational environments, like precipitation, freeze, and other conditions. The method does not require any temperature or other compensation methods and is tested by approximately seven million guided wave measurements collected over 2 years. Results show that our method achieves an area under curve score of near 0.95 when detecting synthetic damage under highly variable environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work determined the attenuation coefficients of Lamb waves of ten engineering materials and compared the results with calculated Lamb-wave attenuation coefficients, α–S and α–A. The Disperse program and a parametric method based on Disperse results were used for calculations. Bulk-wave attenuation coefficients, αL and αT, were required as input parameters to the Disperse calculations. The calculated α–S and α–A values were found to be dominated by the αT contribution. Often α–Ao coincided with αT. The values of αL and αT were previously obtained or newly measured. Attenuation measurement relied on Lamb-wave generation by pulsed excitation of ultrasonic transducers and on surface-displacement detection with point contact receivers. The frequency used ranged from 10 kHz to 1 MHz. A total of 14 sheet and plate samples were evaluated. Sample materials ranged from steel, Al, and silicate glass with low attenuation to polymers and a fiber composite with much higher attenuation. Experimentally obtained Lamb-wave attenuation coefficients, α–S and α–A, for symmetric and asymmetric modes, were mostly for the zeroth mode. Plots of α–So and α–Ao values against frequency were found to coincide reasonably well to theoretically calculated curves. This study confirmed that the Disperse program predicts Lamb-wave attenuation coefficients for elastically isotropic materials within the limitation of the contact ultrasonic techniques used. Further refinements in experimental methods are needed, as large deviations often occurred, especially at low and high frequencies. Methods of refinement are suggested. Displacement measurements were quantified using Rayleigh wave calibration. For signals below 300 kHz, 1-mV receiver output corresponded to 1-pm displacement. Peak displacements after 200-mm propagation were found to range from 10 pm to 1.5 nm. With the use of signal averaging, the point-contact sensor was capable of detecting 1-pm displacement with 40 dB signal-to-noise ratio and had equivalent noise of 4.3 fm/√Hz. Approximate expressions for α–So and α–Ao were obtained, and an empirical correlation was found between bulk-wave attenuation coefficients, i.e., αT = 2.79 αL, for over 150 materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]