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18 pages, 6162 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Study of the Acoustic Signal Characteristics of Locked-Segment Damage Evolution in a Landslide Model

by Xing Zhu, Hui Chen, Zhanglei Wu, Shumei Yang, Xiaopeng Li and Tiantao Li

Sensors 2024, 24(15), 4947; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24154947 - 30 Jul 2024

Viewed by 307

Abstract

Three-section landslides are renowned for their immense size, concealed development process, and devastating impact. This study conducted physical model tests to simulate one special geological structure called a three-section-within landslide. The failure process and precursory characteristics of the tested samples were meticulously analyzed [...] Read more.

Three-section landslides are renowned for their immense size, concealed development process, and devastating impact. This study conducted physical model tests to simulate one special geological structure called a three-section-within landslide. The failure process and precursory characteristics of the tested samples were meticulously analyzed using video imagery, micro-seismic (MS) signals, and acoustic emission (AE) signals, with a focus on event activity, intensity, and frequency. A novel classification method based on AE waveform characteristics was proposed, categorizing AE signals into burst signals and continuous signals. The findings reveal distinct differences in the evolution of these signals. Burst signals appeared exclusively during the crack propagation and failure stages. During these stages, the cumulative AE hits of burst signals increased gradually, with amplitude rising and then declining. High-amplitude burst signals were predominantly distributed in the middle- and high-frequency bands. In contrast, cumulative AE hits of continuous signals escalated rapidly, with amplitude monotonously increasing, and high-amplitude continuous signals were primarily distributed in the low-frequency band. The emergence of burst signals and high-frequency AE signals indicated the generation of microcracks, serving as early-warning indicators. Notably, the early-warning points of AE signals were detected earlier than those of video imagery and MS signals. Furthermore, the early-warning point of burst signals occurred earlier than those of continuous signals, and the early-warning point of the classification method preceded that of overall AE signals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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27 pages, 9601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction and Visualization of Underwater Bridge Piers Using Sonar Imaging

by Jianbin Luo, Shaofei Jiang, Yamian Zeng and Changqin Lai

Sensors 2024, 24(14), 4732; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24144732 - 21 Jul 2024

Viewed by 468

Abstract

The quality of underwater bridge piers significantly impacts bridge safety and long-term usability. To address limitations in conventional inspection methods, this paper presents a sonar-based technique for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and visualization of underwater bridge piers. Advanced MS1000 scanning sonar is employed [...] Read more.

The quality of underwater bridge piers significantly impacts bridge safety and long-term usability. To address limitations in conventional inspection methods, this paper presents a sonar-based technique for the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and visualization of underwater bridge piers. Advanced MS1000 scanning sonar is employed to detect and image bridge piers. Automated image preprocessing, including filtering, denoising, binarization, filling, and morphological operations, introduces an enhanced wavelet denoising method to accurately extract the foundation contour coordinates of bridge piers from sonar images. Using these coordinates, along with undamaged pier dimensions and sonar distances, a model-driven approach for a 3D pier reconstruction algorithm is developed. This algorithm leverages multiple sonar data points to reconstruct damaged piers through multiplication. The Visualization Toolkit (VTK) and surface contour methodology are utilized for 3D visualization, enabling interactive manipulation for enhanced observation and analysis. Experimental results indicate a relative error of 13.56% for the hole volume and 10.65% for the spalling volume, demonstrating accurate replication of bridge pier defect volumes by the reconstructed models. Experimental validation confirms the method’s accuracy and effectiveness in reconstructing underwater bridge piers in three dimensions, providing robust support for safety assessments and contributing significantly to bridge stability and long-term safety assurance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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23 pages, 963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Anisotropic Acoustic Properties in Additively Manufactured Materials: Experimental, Computational, and Deep Learning Approaches

by Ivan Malashin, Vadim Tynchenko, Dmitry Martysyuk, Nikita Shchipakov, Nikolay Krysko, Maxim Degtyarev, Vladimir Nelyub, Andrei Gantimurov, Aleksei Borodulin and Andrey Galinovsky

Sensors 2024, 24(14), 4488; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24144488 - 11 Jul 2024

Viewed by 474

Abstract

The influence of acoustic anisotropy on ultrasonic testing reliability poses a challenge in evaluating products from additive technologies (AT). This study investigates how elasticity constants of anisotropic materials affect defect signal amplitudes in AT products. Experimental measurements on AT samples were conducted to [...] Read more.

The influence of acoustic anisotropy on ultrasonic testing reliability poses a challenge in evaluating products from additive technologies (AT). This study investigates how elasticity constants of anisotropic materials affect defect signal amplitudes in AT products. Experimental measurements on AT samples were conducted to determine elasticity constants. Using Computational Modeling and Simulation Software (CIVA), simulations explored echo signal changes across ultrasound propagation directions. The parameters

A_{13}

(the ratio between the velocities of ultrasonic transverse waves with vertical and horizontal polarizations at a 45-degree angle to the growth direction),

A_{3}

(the ratio for waves at a 90-degree angle), and

A_{g}

(the modulus of the difference between

A_{13}

and

A_{3}

) were derived from wave velocity relationships and used to characterize acoustic anisotropy. Comparative analysis revealed a strong correlation (0.97) between the proposed anisotropy coefficient

A_{g}

and the amplitude changes. Threshold values of

A_{g}

were introduced to classify anisotropic materials based on observed amplitude changes in defect echo signals. In addition, a method leveraging deep learning to predict

A_{g}

based on data from other anisotropy constants through genetic algorithm (GA)-optimized neural network (NN) architectures is proposed, offering an approach that can reduce the computational costs associated with calculating such constants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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20 pages, 79968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Situ Non-Destructive Stiffness Assessment of Fiber Reinforced Composite Plates Using Ultrasonic Guided Waves

by Maarten Adams, Arnaud Huijer, Christos Kassapoglou, Johannes A. A. Vaders and Lotfollah Pahlavan

Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2747; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092747 - 25 Apr 2024

Viewed by 623

Abstract

The multimodal and dispersive character of ultrasonic guided waves (UGW) offers the potential for non-destructive evaluation of fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) materials. In this study, a methodology for in situ stiffness assessment of FRCs using UGWs is introduced. The proposed methodology involves a comparison [...] Read more.

The multimodal and dispersive character of ultrasonic guided waves (UGW) offers the potential for non-destructive evaluation of fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) materials. In this study, a methodology for in situ stiffness assessment of FRCs using UGWs is introduced. The proposed methodology involves a comparison between measured wave speeds of the fundamental symmetric and antisymmetric guided wave modes with a pre-established dataset of UGW speeds and translation of them to corresponding stiffness properties, i.e.,

A B D

-components, in an inverse manner. The dispersion relations of guided waves have been calculated using the semi-analytical finite element method. First, the performance of the proposed methodology has been assessed numerically. It has been demonstrated that each of the independent

A B D

-components of the considered laminate can be approximated with an error lower than 10.4% compared to its actual value. The extensional and bending stiffness properties can be approximated within an average error of 3.6% and 9.0%, respectively. Secondly, the performance of the proposed methodology has been assessed experimentally. This experimental assessment has been performed on a glass fiber-reinforced composite plate and the results were compared to mechanical tensile and four-point bending tests on coupons cut from the plate. Larger differences between the estimated

A B D

-components according to UGW and mechanical testing were observed. These differences were partly attributed to the variation in material properties across the test plate and the averaging of properties over the measurement area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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19 pages, 7240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rail Flaw Detection via Kolmogorov Entropy of Chaotic Oscillator Based on Ultrasonic Guided Waves

by Ziyan Zeng, Jing Wu, Mingfang Zheng and Hongwei Ma

Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2730; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092730 - 25 Apr 2024

Viewed by 574

Abstract

Ultrasonic guided wave (UGW) inspection is an emerging non-destructive testing(NDT) technique for rail flaw detection, where weak UGW signals under strong noise backgrounds are difficult to detect. In this study, a UGW signal identification model based on a chaotic oscillator is established. The [...] Read more.

Ultrasonic guided wave (UGW) inspection is an emerging non-destructive testing(NDT) technique for rail flaw detection, where weak UGW signals under strong noise backgrounds are difficult to detect. In this study, a UGW signal identification model based on a chaotic oscillator is established. The approach integrates the UGW response into the critical state of the Duffing system to serve as a disturbance control variable. By evaluating the system’s motion state before and after introducing the UGW response, identification of UGW signals can be realized. Thus, the parameters defining the critical state of Duffing oscillators are determined by

K_{e}

. Moreover, an electromagnetic transducer was specifically devised to enable unidirectional excitation for UGWs targeted at both the rail base and rail head. Experimental studies showed that the proposed methodology effectively detected and located a 0.46 mm notch at the rail base and a 1.78 mm notch at the rail head. Furthermore,

K_{e}

was directly proportional to the notch size, which could be used as a quantitative index to characterize the rail flaw. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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12 pages, 6925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Dual-Mode Surface Acoustic Wave Delay Line for the Detection of Ice on 64°-Rotated Y-Cut Lithium Niobate

by Philipp Schulmeyer, Manfred Weihnacht and Hagen Schmidt

Sensors 2024, 24(7), 2292; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24072292 - 4 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 832

Abstract

Ice accumulation on infrastructure poses severe safety risks and economic losses, necessitating effective detection and monitoring solutions. This study introduces a novel approach employing surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, known for their small size, wireless operation, energy self-sufficiency, and retrofit capability. Utilizing a [...] Read more.

Ice accumulation on infrastructure poses severe safety risks and economic losses, necessitating effective detection and monitoring solutions. This study introduces a novel approach employing surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, known for their small size, wireless operation, energy self-sufficiency, and retrofit capability. Utilizing a SAW dual-mode delay line device on a 64°-rotated Y-cut lithium niobate substrate, we demonstrate a solution for combined ice detection and temperature measurement. In addition to the shear-horizontal polarized leaky SAW, our findings reveal an electrically excitable Rayleigh-type wave in the X+90° direction on the same cut. Experimental results in a temperature chamber confirm capability for reliable differentiation between liquid water and ice loading and simultaneous temperature measurements. This research presents a promising advancement in addressing safety concerns and economic losses associated with ice accretion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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15 pages, 16953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Design of Sparse Matrix Phased Array Using Simulated Annealing for Volumetric Ultrasonic Imaging with Total Focusing Method

by Dmitry Olegovich Dolmatov and Vadim Yurevich Zhvyrblya

Sensors 2024, 24(6), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24061856 - 14 Mar 2024

Viewed by 878

Abstract

The total focusing method (TFM) is often considered to be the ‘gold standard’ for ultrasonic imaging in the field of nondestructive testing. The use of matrix phased arrays as probes allows for high-resolution volumetric TFM imaging. Conventional TFM imaging involves the use of [...] Read more.

The total focusing method (TFM) is often considered to be the ‘gold standard’ for ultrasonic imaging in the field of nondestructive testing. The use of matrix phased arrays as probes allows for high-resolution volumetric TFM imaging. Conventional TFM imaging involves the use of full matrix capture (FMC) for ultrasonic signals acquisition, but in the case of a matrix phased array, this approach is associated with a huge volume of data to be acquired and processed. This severely limits the frame rate of volumetric imaging with 2D probes and necessitates the use of high-end equipment. Thus, the aim of this research was to develop a novel design method for determining the optimal sparse 2D probe configuration for specific conditions of ultrasonic imaging. The developed approach is based on simulated annealing and involves implementing the solution of the sparse matrix phased array layout optimization problem. In order to implement simulated annealing for the aforementioned task, its parameters were set, the acceptance function was introduced, and the approaches were proposed to compute beam directivity diagrams of sparse matrix phased arrays in TFM imaging. Experimental studies have shown that the proposed approach provides high-quality volumetric imaging with a decrease in data volume of up to 84% compared to that obtained using the FMC data acquisition method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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25 pages, 1787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Frequency-Resolved High-Frequency Broadband Measurement of Acoustic Longitudinal Waves by Laser-Based Excitation and Detection

by Felix Brand and Klaus Stefan Drese

Sensors 2024, 24(5), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24051630 - 1 Mar 2024

Viewed by 824

Abstract

Optoacoustics is a metrology widely used for material characterisation. In this study, a measurement setup for the selective determination of the frequency-resolved phase velocities and attenuations of longitudinal waves over a wide frequency range (3–55

MHz

) is presented. The ultrasonic waves in [...] Read more.

Optoacoustics is a metrology widely used for material characterisation. In this study, a measurement setup for the selective determination of the frequency-resolved phase velocities and attenuations of longitudinal waves over a wide frequency range (3–55

MHz

) is presented. The ultrasonic waves in this setup were excited by a pulsed laser within an absorption layer in the thermoelastic regime and directed through a layer of water onto a sample. The acoustic waves were detected using a self-built adaptive interferometer with a photorefractive crystal. The instrument transmits compression waves only, is low-contact, non-destructive, and has a sample-independent excitation. The limitations of the approach were studied both by simulation and experiments to determine how the frequency range and precision can be improved. It was shown that measurements are possible for all investigated materials (silicon, silicone, aluminium, and water) and that the relative error for the phase velocity is less than 0.2%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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17 pages, 6117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Detection of Pipeline Cracks Based on Ultrasonic Guided Waves and Convolutional Neural Network

by Yuchi Shen, Jing Wu, Junfeng Chen, Weiwei Zhang, Xiaolin Yang and Hongwei Ma

Sensors 2024, 24(4), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24041204 - 13 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1215

Abstract

In this study, a quantitative detection method of pipeline cracks based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) was developed using the time-domain signal of ultrasonic guided waves and the crack size of the pipeline as the input and output, respectively. Pipeline ultrasonic [...] Read more.

In this study, a quantitative detection method of pipeline cracks based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) was developed using the time-domain signal of ultrasonic guided waves and the crack size of the pipeline as the input and output, respectively. Pipeline ultrasonic guided wave detection signals under different crack defect conditions were obtained via numerical simulations and experiments, and these signals were input as features into a multi-layer perceptron and one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) for training. The results revealed that the 1D-CNN performed better in the quantitative analysis of pipeline crack defects, with an error of less than 2% in the simulated and experimental data, and it could effectively evaluate the size of crack defects from the echo signals under different frequency excitations. Thus, by combining the ultrasonic guided wave detection technology and CNN, a quantitative analysis of pipeline crack defects can be effectively realized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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18 pages, 14628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Grating Interferometric Acoustic Sensor Based on a Flexible Polymer Diaphragm

by Linsen Xiong and Zhi-mei Qi

Sensors 2023, 23(24), 9912; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23249912 - 18 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1105

Abstract

This study presents a grating interferometric acoustic sensor based on a flexible polymer diaphragm. A flexible-diaphragm acoustic sensor based on grating interferometry (GI) is proposed through design, fabrication and experimental demonstration. A gold-coated polyethylene terephthalate diaphragm was used for the sensor prototype. The [...] Read more.

This study presents a grating interferometric acoustic sensor based on a flexible polymer diaphragm. A flexible-diaphragm acoustic sensor based on grating interferometry (GI) is proposed through design, fabrication and experimental demonstration. A gold-coated polyethylene terephthalate diaphragm was used for the sensor prototype. The vibration of the diaphragm induces a change in GI cavity length, which is converted into an electrical signal by the photodetector. The experimental results show that the sensor prototype has a flat frequency response in the voice frequency band and the minimum detectable sound pressure can reach 164.8 µPa/√Hz. The sensor prototype has potential applications in speech acquisition and the measurement of water content in oil. This study provides a reference for the design of optical interferometric acoustic sensor with high performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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10 pages, 2746 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Influence of the Geometrical Shape of the Damper on the Efficiency of an Ultrasonic Operation Piezoelectric Transducer

by M. S. Vechera, S. I. Konovalov, R. S. Konovalov, B. I, V. M. Tsaplev, A. D. Soloveva and J. Lee

Sensors 2023, 23(24), 9662; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23249662 - 6 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1034

Abstract

The results of a study on the geometric shape of the damper on the efficiency of the ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer are presented. In particular, a damper in the form of a truncated cone is considered, the generatrix of which has an inclination angle [...] Read more.

The results of a study on the geometric shape of the damper on the efficiency of the ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer are presented. In particular, a damper in the form of a truncated cone is considered, the generatrix of which has an inclination angle α relative to the diameter of the piezoceramic plate. The shape of the damper in the form of a truncated cone is chosen based on the a priori assumption that this helps to increase the path of the wave in the damper material due to numerous reflections in it. A criterion for the efficiency of damper operation is proposed. The optimal (from the point of view of the damper efficiency) value of the angle α was determined theoretically and experimentally. The technology of its production is described. Satisfactory agreement between the results of theoretical and experimental studies was noted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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24 pages, 6477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of the Lamb Wave Mode of Acoustic Emission for Monitoring Impact Damage in Plate Structures

by Baochun Xu, Jiacai Huang and Yachun Jie

Sensors 2023, 23(20), 8611; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23208611 - 20 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1032

Abstract

The impact acoustic emission (AE) of plate structures is a transient stress wave generated by local materials under impact force that contains the state information of the impacted area. If the impact causes damage, the AE from material damage will be superimposed on [...] Read more.

The impact acoustic emission (AE) of plate structures is a transient stress wave generated by local materials under impact force that contains the state information of the impacted area. If the impact causes damage, the AE from material damage will be superimposed on the impact AE. Therefore, this paper details the direct extraction of damage-induced AEs from impact AEs for the health monitoring of plate structures. The damage-induced AE was analysed based on various aspects, including the cut-off range and propagation speed characteristics of the Lamb wave mode, the correlation between the force direction and the Lamb wave mode, and the impact damage process. According to these features, the damage-induced AE wave packets were extracted and verified via impact tests on epoxy glass fibreboards. The results demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed method for determining whether an impact causes damage via the direct extraction of the damage-induced AE from the impact AE. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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28 pages, 7546 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Systematic Evaluation of Ultrasonic In-Line Inspection Techniques for Oil and Gas Pipeline Defects Based on Bibliometric Analysis

by Jie Huang, Pengchao Chen, Rui Li, Kuan Fu, Yanan Wang, Jinyao Duan and Zhenlin Li

Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2699; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092699 - 24 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1006

Abstract

The global reliance on oil and gas pipelines for energy transportation is increasing. As the pioneering review in the field of ultrasonic defect detection for oil and gas pipelines based on bibliometric methods, this study employs visual analysis to identify the most influential [...] Read more.

The global reliance on oil and gas pipelines for energy transportation is increasing. As the pioneering review in the field of ultrasonic defect detection for oil and gas pipelines based on bibliometric methods, this study employs visual analysis to identify the most influential countries, academic institutions, and journals in this domain. Through cluster analysis, it determines the primary trends, research hotspots, and future directions in this critical field. Starting from the current global industrial ultrasonic in-line inspection (ILI) detection level, this paper provides a flowchart for selecting detection methods and a table for defect comparison, detailing the comparative performance limits of different detection devices. It offers a comprehensive perspective on the latest ultrasonic pipeline detection technology from laboratory experiments to industrial practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acoustic and Ultrasonic Sensing Technology in Non-destructive Testing)

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