Laser detection of elastic waves diffraction by the crack’s edge

Diffraction effects and features of acoustic wave propagation in elastic media with the surface-breaking microcrack were investigated in detail for the pulse probing signals. The crack’s plane was oriented along the direction of longitudinal ultrasonic wave incidence in such a way that the detection of the crack with such an unfavorable spatial location was difficult by means of traditional acoustic techniques. Using laser Doppler interferometer a set of instantaneous pictures of acoustic field on the specimen’s surface, corresponding to the different moments of time was obtained. This allowed us to investigate and visualize the diffraction effects of acoustic field in dynamics. Using numerical modeling of diffraction processes of acoustic waves on the crack’s edge and top for pulse signals the origin of V-like structures on the snapshots of acoustic fields was explained and analyzed.     

Wave envelopes method for description of nonlinear acoustic wave propagation

A novel, free from paraxial approximation and computationally efficient numerical algorithm capable of predicting 4D acoustic fields in lossy and nonlinear media from arbitrary shaped sources (relevant to probes used in medical ultrasonic imaging and therapeutic systems) is described. The new WE (wave envelopes) approach to nonlinear propagation modeling is based on the solution of the second order nonlinear differential wave equation reported in [J. Wójcik, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 104 (1998) 2654-2663; V.P. Kuznetsov, Akust. Zh. 16 (1970) 548-553]. An incremental stepping scheme allows for forward wave propagation. The operator-splitting method accounts independently for the effects of full diffraction, absorption and nonlinear interactions of harmonics. The WE method represents the propagating pulsed acoustic wave as a superposition of wavelet-like sinusoidal pulses with carrier frequencies being the harmonics of the boundary tone burst disturbance. The model is valid for lossy media, arbitrarily shaped plane and focused sources, accounts for the effects of diffraction and can be applied to continuous as well as to pulsed waves. Depending on the source geometry, level of nonlinearity and frequency bandwidth, in comparison with the conventional approach the Time-Averaged Wave Envelopes (TAWE) method shortens computational time of the full 4D nonlinear field calculation by at least an order of magnitude; thus, predictions of nonlinear beam propagation from complex sources (such as phased arrays) can be available within 30-60 min using only a standard PC. The approximate ratio between the computational time costs obtained by using the TAWE method and the conventional approach in calculations of the nonlinear interactions is proportional to 1/N2, and in memory consumption to 1/N where N is the average bandwidth of the individual wavelets. Numerical computations comparing the spatial field distributions obtained by using both the TAWE method and the conventional approach (based on a Fourier series representation of the propagating wave) are given for circular source geometry, which represents the most challenging case from the computational time point of view. For two cases, short (2 cycle) and long (8 cycle) 2 MHz bursts, the computational times were 10 min and 15 min versus 2 h and 8 h for the TAWE method versus the conventional method, respectively.     

Beam and phase effects in angle-beam-through-transmission method of ultrasonic velocity measurement

The accuracy of a plane wave approximation for phase velocity measurements in isotropic and anisotropic material using the angle-beam-through-transmission method has been investigated numerically and experimentally. In this method the velocity is measured in different propagation directions as a function of incidence angle. The effect of two factors on the measurement accuracy have been discussed: intrinsic phase shift of the transmitted signal through a fluid-solid interface and beam diffraction due to the finite beam size of receiver and transmitter. It is shown that the interface-induced phase shift can introduce an error in time delay measurements of the shear wave after the first critical angle and that this time delay error can be accurately corrected for. Numerical results obtained by a time-domain beam model show that except at the critical angles, the finite width of the transmitter and receiver only affects the amplitudes of the transmitted signals and has almost no effect on the measured zero-cross time delay; therefore the plane wave approximation for obtaining phase velocity from the measured time delay data by this method and the plane wave interface-induced phase correction are fully applicable.     

The time-domain signature of negative acoustic group velocity in microsphere suspensions

In the wake of recent reports of superluminal acoustic group velocities in sonic and ultrasonic regions of the acoustic spectrum, this paper describes the time-domain manifestation of such group velocities through simulations of the linear propagation of ultrasonic wave packets in a suspension of elastic microspheres. Conditions under which arbitrarily large and negative group velocities can be observed as the speed of a peak in the envelope of an acoustic pulse are described. Propagation simulations demonstrate the physical signature of negative group velocities, as well as the causal compliance of the superluminal acoustic pulses examined in this work.     

Diffraction of sound by an elastic cylinder near the surface of an elastic halfspace

Diffraction of an acoustic wave by an elastic cylinder near the surface of an elastic halfspace is considered. The solution relies on a Helmholtz-type integral equation and uses the Green function of an elastic halfspace. The latter function is represented in the form of an integral over the Sommerfeld contour on the plane of a complex variable that has the meaning of the angle of the wave incidence on the halfspace boundary. An integral equation for the sound pressure distribution over the cylinder surface is derived. This equation is reduced to an infinite system of equations for the Fourier-series expansion coefficients of this distribution. The results obtained are valid for the diffraction of a cylindrical wave and a plane wave. They also describe the diffraction of a spherical wave when the transmitter and receiver are far from the cylinder and lie in one plane that is orthogonal to the cylinder axis.     

方位偶极声波远探测技术研究与应用

偶极横波远探测测井技术是当前缝洞型和复杂储层油气勘探开发和评价不可缺少的技术手段。常规偶极远探测技术受限于180?方位的不确定性,难以判别缝洞等地质体的真实方位。采用双偶极错位发射多分量阵列接收研究偶极方位识别方法。首先以传统正交偶极模式获得地质体方位探测结果,再以45?错位角发射偶极声波信号,通过多个邻近接收器的波形差的组合以及反射波在仪器孔径上的时间延迟来区分方位,进一步压制伪像干扰获得地质体真实的方位成像结果。针对弱反射信号,在硬件上,研究了多分量有源接收器阵列声系,有效提升了偶极声波信号信噪比,结合动态增益控制提升反射波幅度;研究了双偶极宽频发射器与多模式发射技术,提高偶极发射功率,保证了偶极声波信号在地层中的远距离传播与反射。数值仿真与实际测井数据表明,双偶极方位识别方法可行,有助于偶极横波远探测技术的进一步发展和应用。     

Interaction of acoustic waves in microinhomogeneous media with hysteretic nonlinearity and relaxation

The propagation of a weak high-frequency pulse in the field of an intense standing low-frequency pump wave excited in an acoustic resonator with quadratic hysteretic nonlinearity and relaxation is theoretically investigated. The nonlinear damping coefficient and the carrier phase delay of the weak high-frequency pulse propagating under the action of an intense low-frequency wave are determined.     

宽带相控线阵声源在套管井外地层辐射声场的指向性

套管井中的声传播涉及到波在柱状多层介质中的传播问题。通过数值计算对比了宽带相控线阵声源在套管井外均匀地层中产生的纵横波声场的指向性。结果表明,在任意胶结状况下,均可实现向套管井外地层定向辐射纵横波的技术;与地层中纵波的传播特征不同的是在主瓣偏转角方向横波幅度随着偏转角的增大逐渐增加,且在主瓣辐射方向的横波幅度受套管井胶结状况的影响较纵波小;采用玻璃钢套管代替钢套管,会进一步减弱地层声场受胶结状况的影响,这有利于实现在套管井外地层较大范围内的精确定向辐射声波的技术。     

水下强声波脉冲负压的产生和空化气泡运动

首先利用高速摄影和压力传感器测量的方法, 对曲面反射式水下强声波脉冲的传播和聚焦过程进行了实验研究.实验研究发现, 椭球面反射罩在起到汇聚声能的作用的同时也将使得强声波脉冲在传播过程中形成负压区, 并由此而引发近场声传播通道上空化气泡群的产生. 在实验结果的基础上, 进一步利用基于Kirchhoff衍射定理的声传播模型和大振幅条件下的QX气泡运动方程, 对强声波脉冲负压区的形成原因及空化气泡的运动过程进行了数值计算和分析. 研究结果表明, 在焦前区, 源于反射罩内表面的"尾波"和出口处的"边缘波"在传播过程中将形成反射波中的负压区; 在焦后区, 源于反射罩顶点的"中心波"在传播过程中将形成反射波中的负压区. 在反射波作用下, 空化气泡体现出了"正压区受压缩并振荡, 负压区膨胀"的运动特点. 在反射波之后, 空化气泡将出现成长、坍缩和回弹等典型的物理过程. 研究结果对曲面反射式水下强声波传播物理规律的认识具有实际意义.     

Relationships between the anisotropy of longitudinal wave velocity and hydroxyapatite crystallite orientation in bovine cortical bone

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is now widely used for evaluating bone in vivo, because obtained ultrasonic wave properties directly reflect the visco-elasticity. Bone tissue is composed of minerals like hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a collagen matrix. HAp crystallites orientation is thus one parameter of bone elasticity. In this study, we experimentally investigated the anisotropy of ultrasonic wave velocity and the HAp crystallites orientation in the axial-radial and axial-tangential planes in detail, using cylindrical specimens obtained from the cortical bone of three bovine femurs. Longitudinal bulk wave propagation was investigated by using a conventional ultrasonic pulse system. We used the one cycle of sinusoidal pulse which was emitted from wide band transmitter. The nominal frequency of the pulse was 1 MHz. First, we investigated the anisotropy of longitudinal wave velocity, measuring the anisotropy of velocity in two planes using cylindrical specimens obtained from identical bone areas. The wave velocity changed due to the rotation angle, showing the maximum value in the direction a little off the bone axis. Moreover, X-ray pole figure measurements also indicated that there were small tilts in the HAp crystallites orientation from the bone axis. The tilt angles were similar to those of the highest velocity direction. There were good correlations between velocity and HAp crystallites orientation obtained in different directions. However, a comparatively low correlation was found in posterior bone areas, which shows the stronger effects of bone microstructure. In the radial-tangential plane, where the HAp crystallites hardly ever align, weak anisotropy of velocity was found which seemed to depend on the bone microstructure.     

On the sampling conditions for reconstruction of an acoustic field from a finite sound source

A simple and accurate method for the estimation of ultrasonic transducer fields is developed. In the method, the angular spectrum is employed to evaluate the three-dimensional propagation from a measured plane to an arbitrary parallel plane. The implementation uses a discrete convolution that is described in detail. Relative to conventional spatial-frequency representations, the implementation of the angular spectrum method in this paper has the advantage of being free from artifacts, enabling sample spacing to be greater than one half wavelength, using memory efficiently, and interpolating the measured data. The loosened sampling requirement and natural interpolation of the method permit efficient reconstruction of the full three-dimensional acoustic field from a coarse sound pressure measurement on single plane.     

Parametric reversal of nonlinear acoustic waves

A mechanism of parametric reversal of the ultrasonic field from a quasi-monochromatic radiator situated in a nonlinear acoustic medium is proposed and analyzed. The mechanism is based on the phonon-plasmon interaction in semiconductors with a high concentration of electron traps, when a sample is irradiated by a periodic sequence of short laser pulses. The spectrum of output signal and, correspondingly, the temporal profile of the spatially reversed wave are investigated as functions of the intensity and duration of pumping pulses. It is shown that the choice of pumping parameters allows one to control the spectrum of reversed wave and, in particular, closely reproduce the spatiotemporal structure of the original wave. The frequency matching of the nonlinear ultrasonic wave harmonics and the pump Fourier frequencies occurs automatically at a certain pulse repetition rate in this scheme.     

Analysis of laser-generated ultrasonic force source at specimen surface and display of bulk wave in transversely isotropic plate by numerical method

Taking into account the effects of thermal diffusion and optical penetration, as well as the finite width and duration of the laser source, the laser-generated ultrasonic force source at surface vicinity is presented. The full acoustic fields of laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave are obtained and displayed in transversely isotropic plate. The features of laser-generated ultrasound bulk waves are analyzed. The features of laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave are in good agreement with the theoretical results (the phase velocity surfaces), demonstrating the validity of this simulation. The numerical results indicate that the features of laser-generated ultrasound waveforms in anisotropic specimen, different from the case in isotropic materials, have a close relation with the propagating plane and propagation direction. This method can provide insight to the generation and propagation of laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave in transversely isotropic material.     

Modeling of pulsed finite-amplitude focused sound beams in time domain.

A time-domain numerical model is presented for simulating the finite-amplitude focused acoustic pulse propagation in a dissipative and nonlinear medium with a symmetrical source geometry. In this method, the main effects responsible in finite-amplitude wave propagation, i.e., diffraction, nonlinearity, and absorption, are taken into account. These effects are treated independently using the method of fractional steps with a second-order operator-splitting algorithm. In this method, the acoustic beam propagates, plane-by-plane, from the surface of a highly focused radiator up to its focus. The results of calculations in an ideal (linear and nondissipative) medium show the validity of the model for simulating the effect of diffraction in highly focused pulse propagation. For real media, very good agreement was obtained in the shape of the theoretical and experimental pressure-time waveforms. A discrepancy in the amplitudes was observed with a maximum of around 20%, which can be explained by existing sources of error in our measurements and on the assumptions inherent in our theoretical model. The model has certain advantages over other time-domain methods previously reported in that it: (1) allows for arbitrary absorption and dispersion, and (2) makes use of full diffraction formulation. The latter point is particularly important for studying intense sources with high focusing gains.     

Using streamlines to visualize acoustic energy flow across boundaries

For spherical waves that radiate from a point source in a homogeneous fluid and propagate across a plane boundary into a dissimilar homogeneous fluid, the acoustic field may differ significantly from the geometric acoustic approximation if either the source or receiver is near the interface (in acoustic wavelengths) or if the stationary phase path is near the critical angle. In such cases, the entire acoustic field must be considered, including inhomogeneous waves associated with diffraction (i.e., those components that vanish with increasing frequency). The energy flow from a continuous-wave monopole point source across the boundary is visualized by tracing acoustic streamlines: those curves whose tangent at every point is parallel to the local acoustic intensity vector, averaged over a wave cycle. It is seen that the acoustic energy flow is not always in line with the "Snell's law" or stationary phase path. Also, plots of acoustic energy streamlines do not display unusual behavior in the vicinity of the critical angle. Finally, it is shown that there exists a law of refraction of acoustic energy streamlines at boundaries with density discontinuities analogous to Snell's law of refraction of ray paths across sound speed discontinuities. Examples include water-to-seabed transmission and water-to-air transmission.     

A model and experimental study of fiber orientation effects on shear wave propagation through composite laminates

The strong elastic anisotropy of the discrete unidirectional plies in a composite laminate interacts sensitively with the polarization direction of a shear ultrasonic wave propagating in the thickness direction. The transmitted shear wave can therefore be used to detect errors in the ply orientation and stacking sequence of a laminate. The sensitivity is particularly high when the polarization directions of the shear wave transmitter and receiver are orthogonal to each other. To understand the interaction between normal-incident shear waves and ply orientations in a laminate, a complete analytical model was developed using local and global transfer matrices. The model predicted the transmitted signal amplitude as a function of polarization angle of the transmitter and time (or frequency) for a given laminate and input signal. To alleviate the experimental problems associated with shear wave coupling, electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) and metal delay lines were used in the angular scan of the transmitted signal. The EMAT system had the added advantage of being applicable to uncured composite laminates. Experiments were performed on both cured and uncured laminates with common layups for model verification. The sensitivity of the measured shear wave signals to fiber misorientation and stacking sequence errors was also demonstrated.     

Application of acoustic feedback to target detection in a waveguide: experimental demonstration at the ultrasonic scale

People are familiar with the acoustic feedback phenomenon, which results in a loud sound that is heard when a musician plays an electric instrument directly into a speaker. Acoustic feedback occurs when a source and a receiver are connected both acoustically through the propagation medium and electrically through an amplifier, such that the amplified received signal is continuously re-emitted by the source. The acoustic feedback can be initiated from a continuous sine wave. When the emitter and the receiver are in phase, resonance is obtained, which appears to be highly sensitive to any fluctuation of the propagation medium. Another procedure consists in initiating the acoustic feedback from a continuous loop of ambient noise. It then generates an unstable self-sustained feedback oscillator (SFO) that is tested here as a method for monitoring temperature fluctuations of a shallow-water oceanic environment. The goal of the present study is to reproduce and study the SFO at the laboratory scale in an ultrasonic waveguide. The experimental results demonstrate the potential applications of the SFO for the detection of a target in the framework of the acoustic-barrier problem in shallow-water acoustics.     

Acoustic multipath arrivals in the horizontal plane due to approaching nonlinear internal waves

Simultaneous measurements of acoustic wave transmissions and a nonlinear internal wave packet approaching an along-shelf acoustic path during the Shallow Water 2006 experiment are reported. The incoming internal wave packet acts as a moving frontal layer reflecting (or refracting) sound in the horizontal plane. Received acoustic signals are filtered into acoustic normal mode arrivals. It is shown that a horizontal multipath interference is produced. This has previously been called a horizontal Lloyd's mirror. The interference between the direct path and the refracted path depends on the mode number and frequency of the acoustic signal. A mechanism for the multipath interference is shown. Preliminary modeling results of this dynamic interaction using vertical modes and horizontal parabolic equation models are in good agreement with the observed data.