Ultrasonic Detection of Aliased Signal Separation Based on Adaptive Feature Dictionary and K–SVD Algorithm for Protective Coatings of Assembled Steel Structure
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors conducted a study of the separation of the superimposed signals essential for precisely measuring the thickness of thinner coatings. They used an adaptive feature dictionary and the K-SVD method to extract signal time domain features. Also, they use wavelet transform to identify the extreme values of the signal and use them as the new signal to be processed. The optimized feature dictionary is subsequently obtained by enhancing the K-SVD algorithm. They claim that Their detection method is more accurate than the conventional wavelet transform and Gabor dictionary-based MP algorithm in detecting the thickness of protective coatings.
Generally, it seems to be a well presented study and could be proper to be published through minor structural revisions and during the proofreading process.
In Summary:
1. The manuscript's English text should be polished. The text seems to be confusing in some sections.
2. It is highly recommended to provide an algorithm and flowchart Materials and Methods section.
3. The Results and Discussion Section is necessary to be literally polished to demonstrate the significance of the generated results. This paper could be significantly improved through a major revision process.
4. Some figures and images Should be rearranged and redrawn to promote the quality of results demonstration. (Figure 2, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 10)
5. All the tables shall be rearranged due to journal requirements.
6. Does it possible to remove some figures or push them to the appendix section? If yse; do not hesitate to do it.
7. The introduction section needs more explanation and elaboration using more relevant references to manuscript.
8. The last paragraph of introduction section does not clearly state the novelty of the study.
9. The conclusion section is poorly prepared!
10. It is highly recommended to rearrange the paper structure based on journals template.
11. Equation No.14 shall be rearranged (Line-234)
12. It seems that Figure 3 could be replaced by a proper algorithm and flowchart.
13. Figure 4. Shall provide more information (maybe dimensional data) Geometric simulation model.
14. check all equations. All of the parameters shall be introduced right after the corresponding equation.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Moderate editing of the English language is required during the proofreading process.
Author Response
- The manuscript's English text should be polished. The text seems to be confusing in some sections.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions. The content of the manuscript has been carefully revised according to the suggestions.
- It is highly recommended to provide an algorithm and flowchart Materials and Methods section.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions. Figure 3 is adapted to the algorithm flowchart of this method, and the algorithmic ideas are summarized in Figure 3.
- The Results and Discussion Section is necessary to be literally polished to demonstrate the significance of the generated results. This paper could be significantly improved through a major revision process.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 449 to 628 of the revised manuscript.
- Some figures and images Should be rearranged and redrawn to promote the quality of results demonstration. (Figure 2, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 10)
Response: Thanks for the suggestions. The picture has been modified to be clearer and more accurately described according to the suggestions.
- All the tables shall be rearranged due to journal requirements.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions. The format of the tables in the text has been adjusted with reference to some papers published in this journal.
- Does it possible to remove some figures or push them to the appendix section? If yes; do not hesitate to do it.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions. The data in the text are closely related to the simulations and experiments, and deletion or postponement may affect the reading of the manuscript.
- The introduction section needs more explanation and elaboration using more relevant references to manuscript.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 61 to 148 of the revised manuscript.
- The last paragraph of introduction section does not clearly state the novelty of the study.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 167 to 179 of the revised manuscript.
- The conclusion section is poorly prepared!
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the conclusion section.
- It is highly recommended to rearrange the paper structure based on journals template.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions. The structure of the manuscript has been revised based on journals template.
- Equation No.14 shall be rearranged (Line-234)
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 279 to 280 of the revised manuscript.
- It seems that Figure 3 could be replaced by a proper algorithm and flowchart.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions. Figure 3 is adapted to the algorithm flowchart of this method, and the algorithmic ideas are summarized in Figure 3.
- Figure 4. Shall provide more information (maybe dimensional data) Geometric simulation model.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check Figure 4 in revised manuscript.
- check all equations. All of the parameters shall be introduced right after the corresponding equation.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, all equations are checked carefully, and some missing parameters have been added, please check the revised manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The article titled as "Ultrasonic Detection of Aliased Signal Separation Based on Adaptive Feature Dictionary and K-SVD Algorithm For Protective Coatings of Assembled Steel Structure" discussed that the separation of the superimposed signals is essential for the precise measurement of the thickness of thinner coatings. A method for signal time domain feature extraction based on an adaptive feature dictionary and K-SVD is investigated. First, the wavelet transform, which is sensitive to singular signal values, is used to identify the extreme values of the signal and-use them as the new signal to be processed. Then, the feature signal extracted by wavelet transform is transformed into Hankel matrix form, and the initial feature dictionary is constructed by period segmentation and random extraction. The optimized feature dictionary is subsequently obtained by enhancing the K-SVD algorithm. Finally, the time domain signal is reconstructed using the optimized feature dictionary. Simulations and experiments, demonstrate that the method is more accurate in separating mixed signals and extracting signal time domain feature in formation than the conventional wavelet transform and Gabor dictionary-based MP algorithm and that it is more advantageous in detecting the thickness of protective coatings.
The article is having significant merits however, there are certain suggestions to improve the quality as below:
In the Introduction section, please add the latest literature studies on the relevant topic.
The presentation/format of the article cold be improved further by referring the recently published article in this journal.
"The proposed transient feature extraction method" could be shifted to supplementary section or may be revised in the same format as the rest of the article.
There are several abbreviations/acronyms used in this article. Therefore, it is suggested to make a list of abbreviations and describe them in a section just after abstract or keywords.
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
- In the Introduction section, please add the latest literature studies on the relevant topic.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 61 to 148 of the revised manuscript.
2.The presentation/format of the article cold be improved further by referring the recently published article in this journal.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions. The structure of the manuscript has been revised based on some papers published in this journal.
3."The proposed transient feature extraction method" could be shifted to supplementary section or may be revised in the same format as the rest of the article.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions. Figure 3 is adapted to the algorithm flowchart of this method, and the algorithmic ideas are summarized in Figure 3.
4.There are several abbreviations/acronyms used in this article. Therefore, it is suggested to make a list of abbreviations and describe them in a section just after abstract or keywords.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions.
Contents are as follows: According to the template requirements of the journal paper, all abbreviations appearing in the text are written in their first appearance with the full expression introduced along with the abbreviated writing style.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments from the reviewer for the manuscript number 2484389
Comments for the authors
The manuscript number 2484389 entitled “Ultrasonic Detection of Aliased Signal Separation Based on Adaptive Feature Dictionary and K-SVD Algorithm For Protective Coatings of Assembled Steel Structure” by Yiyi LIU et al. is a very good work and well written. However, few English mistake are there in the manuscript. So it can be accepted after incorporating the minor corrections, which are given below.
Needed minor corrections
Abstract
1. All right.
Keywords
2. All right.
1. Introduction
3. Change the heading as
I. Introduction
4. Line 67. ---a thickness between 0.2~and 0.3mm ; for---
Gap is missing before “mm” and an extra gap before “;”. So change as
----a thickness between 0.2~and 0.3 mm; for---
II. Wavelet Transform
5. All right.
III. Improved K-SVD Algorithm Based on Adaptive Feature Dictionary
A. K-SVD algorithm
6. All right.
B. Construction of signal matrix and initial feature dictionary
7. All right.
C. Signal reconfiguration
8. Line 310. However, since the effect of the waveform---
Change as
Since the effect of the waveform---
IV. Simulation Analysis
A. Protective coating modeling
9. Line 341. From top to bottom in Fig. 4: 1mm thickness---
A gap is necessary before “mm”. So change as
From top to bottom in Fig. 4: One mm thickness---
10. Line 342. ---fireproof coating, 0.1mm thickness---
A gap is necessary before “mm”. So change as
---fireproof coating, 0.1 mm thickness---
11. Line 378. ---is 20MHz, the maximum cell size of the grid in the water layer is set to 0.012mm,---
Gaps are missing. So change as
12. ---is 20 MHz, the maximum cell size of the grid in the water layer is set to 0.012 mm,---
13. Gaps are missing before “mm” in lines 379, 380 and 381.
14. Figure 5. Waveform of 20MHz analog excitation signal.
Give a gap before “MHz” as
Figure 5. Waveform of 20 MHz analog excitation signal.
B. Simulation results and analysis
15. Line 390. ---frequency of 20MHz, and---
Give a gap before “MHz” as
---frequency of 20 MHz, and---
V. Experiment and Discussion
A. Specimen and experimental platform
16. Line 498. The sampling frequency is 200MHz,---
Give a gap before “MHz” as
The sampling frequency is 200 MHz,---
17. Line 499. ---interval is 0.005μs.
Gap is missing. So change as
---interval is 0.005 μs.
18. Line 499-502. Thus, the one-way average sound time difference between the detected coating and the substrate is 0.1μs, and when combined with the average coating thickness of 209.49μm provided by Table 3 for metallographic inspection, the average sound speed in the corrosion layer can be calculated as 2095m/s.
Gap are missing before “μs”, “μm” and “m/s”. So change as
Thus, the one-way average sound time difference between the detected coating and the substrate is 0.1 μs, and when combined with the average coating thickness of 209.49 μm provided by Table 3 for metallographic inspection, the average sound speed in the corrosion layer can be calculated as 2095 m/s.
B. Signal decomposition reconfiguration
19. Line 511. As can be seen in Fig.13,---
Change as
As can be seen in Fig. 13,---
20. Before the words “?m” in lines 523 and 526, “MHz” in lines 325 and 527. “
VI. CONCLUSIONS
21. All right.
Acknowledgement
22. All right.
REFERENCES
23. All right.
Minor English correction is needed.
Author Response
- Introduction Change the heading as I. Introduction.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions.
- Line 67. “a thickness between 0.2~and 0.3mm; for” Gap is missing before “mm” and an extra gap before “;”. So change as “a thickness between 0.2~and 0.3 mm; for”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 80 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 310. “However, since the effect of the waveform” Change as “Since the effect of the waveform”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 355 to 356 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 341. “From top to bottom in Fig. 4: 1mm thickness” A gap is necessary before “mm”. So change as “From top to bottom in Fig. 4: One mm thickness”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 388 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 342. “fireproof coating, 0.1mm thickness” A gap is necessary before “mm”. So change as “fireproof coating, 0.1 mm thickness”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 389 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 378. “is 20MHz, the maximum cell size of the grid in the water layer is set to 0.012mm,” Gaps are missing. So change as “is 20 MHz, the maximum cell size of the grid in the water layer is set to 0.012 mm,”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 426 to 427 of the revised manuscript.
- Gaps are missing before “mm” in lines 379, 380 and 381.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 427 to 429 of the revised manuscript.
- “Figure 5. Waveform of 20MHz analog excitation signal.” Give a gap before “MHz” as “Figure 5. Waveform of 20 MHz analog excitation signal.”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 437 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 390. “frequency of 20MHz, and” Give a gap before “MHz” as “frequency of 20 MHz, and”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 439 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 498. “The sampling frequency is 200MHz,” Give a gap before “MHz” as “The sampling frequency is 200 MHz,”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 555 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 499. “interval is 0.005μs.” Gap is missing. So change as “interval is 0.005 μs.”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 555 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 499-502. “Thus, the one-way average sound time difference between the detected coating and the substrate is 0.1μs, and when combined with the average coating thickness of 209.49μm provided by Table 3 for metallographic inspection, the average sound speed in the corrosion layer can be calculated as 2095m/s.” Gap are missing before “μs”, “μm” and “m/s”. So change as “Thus, the one-way average sound time difference between the detected coating and the substrate is 0.1 μs, and when combined with the average coating thickness of 209.49 μm provided by Table 3 for metallographic inspection, the average sound speed in the corrosion layer can be calculated as 2095 m/s.”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 555 to 559 of the revised manuscript.
- Line 511. “As can be seen in Fig.13,” Change as “As can be seen in Fig. 13,”.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 568 of the revised manuscript.
- Before the words “���m” in lines 523 and 526, “MHz” in lines 325 and 527. Gaps are missing.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in the revised manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Dear authors,
congratulation for your work. After reading your manuscript I have some comments:
- in Introduction, please highlight the work of each group of researchers from the studied references,
- please add more references to better describe the state of the art,
- please put the reference indicator for each figure which is not your property,
- please indicate the name and producer of the used equipment,
- Please explain better figure 11
- Table 2 is not ok. Please erase the measurement unit from the table cells and put them in the head of the table,
Author Response
- In Introduction, please highlight the work of each group of researchers from the studied references.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 110 to 143 of the revised manuscript.
- Please add more references to better describe the state of the art.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 61 to 148 of the revised manuscript.
- Please put the reference indicator for each figure which is not your property.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions. The detail descriptions of the vertical coordinates in Figures 5-9 and 13-14 are added, and please focus on the corresponding figures in the revised manuscript.
- Please indicate the name and producer of the used equipment.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 520 to 521 of the revised manuscript.
- Please explain better figure 11.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check the red letters in lines 525 to 529 of the revised manuscript.
- Table 2 is not ok. Please erase the measurement unit from the table cells and put them in the head of the table.
Response: Thanks for the suggestions, revisions have been completed in the manuscript based on the suggestions, please check Table 2 of the revised manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 4 Report
Dear authors,
thank you for your answers
