Non-contact optical fibre phased array generation of ultrasound for non-destructive evaluation of materials and processes

The use of non-contact laser techniques for the generation of ultrasound has extended the limits of the application of traditional ultrasonic techniques. This paper focusses on the use of one such non-contact laser technique, known as ‘optical fibre array’, to generate shear and surface waves. The shear wave experimental directivity pattern results are presented and compared with the theoretical results of a single source and an array source. The experimental directivity results for the surface wave are also presented, and compared with the theoretical results. The data show that the array enhances signal generation in the forward direction for both shear and surface waves. The array gain is also discussed. The receiver for the directivity measurements was a contact piezoelectric transducer.     

Line source representation for laser-generated ultrasound in aluminum

Modeling the ultrasound generated by a laser source is critical for using noncontact laser-generated ultrasonic systems for the characterization of material properties. In this work, a laser line source was modeled and verified experimentally by measuring the ultrasonic shear wave signal generated in aluminum with a broadband laser generation/electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT)-detection system. Results of calculations and experiments show that the amplitude directivity of a laser line source is identical to that of a point source in the plane perpendicular to the line axis while the temporal dependence differs.     

Numerical simulation of evaluation of surface breaking cracks by array-lasers generated narrow-band SAW

Most of the factors limiting the extensive application of laser-based ultrasonic for nondestructive evaluation of surface breaking crack are its poor sensitivity, low efficiency relative to conventional contact ultrasonic methods and limit on the dimension of the cracks. For this reason, a new technique that multiplepulse narrow-band ultrasound generated by laser arrays has been proposed. It is found that crack detection dependent on spectrum of narrow-band ultrasound generated by laser arrays can be operated with low amplitude requirements. In this paper, the narrow-band ultrasound generated by pulse laser arrays interacting with surface breaking cracks has been simulated in detail by the finite element method (FEM) according to the thermoelastic theory. The pulsed array lasers were assumed to be transient heat source, and the surface acoustic wave (SAW) which propagating on the top of the plate was computed based on thermoelastic theory. Then the frequency spectrums of both reflected waves by crack and transmission ones through crack were compared with the direct waves. Results demonstrate that multiple-frequency components of the narrow-band ultrasound were varied with change of the depth of surface breaking cracks significantly, which provides the possibility for precise evaluation of surface breaking cracks.     

Numerical simulation of the ultrasonic waves generated by ring-shaped laser illumination patterns

The generation of ultrasound in aluminum plate subjected to ring-shaped laser beam illumination has been studied quantitatively by using the finite element method. The superposition effects of surface acoustic waves on the top surface and the bulk ultrasonic waves on the rear surface of specimen have been obtained in a single simulation. The typical displacement profiles of the bulk ultrasonic wave at various depths along the central axis of the ring are obtained for three different radii, and the effect of the ring radius on the focal depths of the compression and shear mode are determined. The numerical results confirm that the focal depth of a bulk acoustic mode is determined by the directivity patterns of the acoustic mode generated by point-like laser sources via a thermoelastic mechanism, which depends on the physical constants of elastic medium.     

激光激发超声波的新方法研究

介绍了激光激发超声波的原理，分别给出了热弹机制和烧蚀机制下的纵波和剪切波理论波形；基于排列因子作用，提出了一种新型激光激发超声波的方法——激光定相位排列激发超声波，激光源经过定相位排列后，在某一方向上产生的超声波幅度比传统单一源产生的超声波幅度要强很多，采用此种方法，可实现对超声信号方向和强度的有效激发控制，对下一步的超声无损检测有非常重要的意义；结合实际给出了该方法的实现方式.     

An alternative method to measure the on-axis difference-frequency sound in a parametric loudspeaker without using an acoustic filter

The self-demodulation characteristic of finite-amplitude ultrasonic sound waves can be applied with parametric loudspeaker to reproduce audible sound with highly directivity. But measuring the difference-frequency sound is still a problem due to the spurious sound generated as a result of nonlinearity caused by the product of the primary waves at the receiving system. In this paper, based on the phase-cancellation method and the Gaussian beam expansion technique, an alternative method is proposed to measure the on-axis difference-frequency sound accurately without using any traditional acoustic filter, where the spurious sound can be greatly reduced or even eliminated. The proposed method is more suitable for the case where the piston source in the parametric loudspeaker comprises multiple small piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) and each transducer element in the array may have different frequency response. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed both by simulations and experiments.     

基于激光超声的微裂纹检测技术的研究

在固体中利用激光产生超声波 ,可作为超声测量和材料无损检测的一种新方法。介绍了激光超声表面波的产生机理、微裂纹的检测方法及其应用。采用Nd∶YAG脉冲激光器、扩束与聚焦透镜组、PZT探头、数据分析仪等器件设计并构建了一套基于接触式检测方法的激光超声微裂纹检测实验系统。通过对大量实验数据进行处理 ,得出了相应的各种关系曲线 ,说明了线光源产生的超声表面波非常适用于材料表面微裂纹的检测     

Acoustic normal mode fluctuation statistics in the 1995 SWARM internal wave scattering experiment

In order to understand the fluctuations imposed upon low frequency (50 to 500 Hz) acoustic signals due to coastal internal waves, a large multilaboratory, multidisciplinary experiment was performed in the Mid-Atlantic Bight in the summer of 1995. This experiment featured the most complete set of environmental measurements (especially physical oceanography and geology) made to date in support of a coastal acoustics study. This support enabled the correlation of acoustic fluctuations to clearly observed ocean processes, especially those associated with the internal wave field. More specifically, a 16 element WHOI vertical line array (WVLA) was moored in 70 m of water off the New Jersey coast. Tomography sources of 224 Hz and 400 Hz were moored 32 km directly shoreward of this array, such that an acoustic path was constructed that was anti-parallel to the primary, onshore propagation direction for shelf generated internal wave solitons. These nonlinear internal waves, produced in packets as the tide shifts from ebb to flood, produce strong semidiurnal effects on the acoustic signals at our measurement location. Specifically, the internal waves in the acoustic waveguide cause significant coupling of energy between the propagating acoustic modes, resulting in broadband fluctuations in modal intensity, travel-time, and temporal coherence. The strong correlations between the environmental parameters and the internal wave field include an interesting sensitivity of the spread of an acoustic pulse to solitons near the receiver.     

Effect of laser beam incidence angle on the thermoelastic generation in semi-transparent materials

When a laser beam is absorbed in a semi-transparent material, a volume acoustic source is created owing to penetration of the laser beam inside the material and to thermoelastic transduction. Many experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted to better understand this ultrasound generation process with normal laser light incidence on the material surface. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of the asymmetry caused by oblique incidence of a laser line source on the generation of acoustic waves in semi-transparent isotropic materials. Experiments on a glass plate demonstrate that such an obliquely incident laser light strongly affects bulk acoustic waves generation. Compressional and shear waves are enhanced and the loss of symmetry of the acoustic source causes asymmetrical behavior of the acoustic waves. Surprisingly, compressional-wave amplitude decreases whereas shear-wave amplitude increases in the region where the electromagnetic energy is refracted. This feature is explained by semi-analytical calculations.     

Narrow band laser-generated surface acoustic waves using a formed source in the ablative regime

A narrow band laser-generated acoustic signal was created using a 4-element lenticular array. This arrangement of the array produces an acoustical signal with frequency content that is compatible with the response of a noncontact and remote broadband receiver, such as a capacitive air-coupled transducer. To support the experimental observations, a simplified concept is presented to explain the effect of a line array source on the frequency content of a surface acoustic wave. The analytical model solution for the wave front shape is derived from the point load solution of Lamb's problem that represents the displacement of a surface acoustic wave generated by an ablative line array. The distribution function, which was used for the model to represent the laser light energy, was tailored to depict the actual energy distribution that illuminates the lenticular array. Filtering functions are applied to the resultant surface displacement function to retain frequencies similar to those detected by the broadband 50 kHz-2.25 MHz receiver. The theoretical model showed good agreement with experimental results.     

方位远探测声波测井仪接收声系实验研究

方位远探测声波测井仪接收声系中各通道接收换能器及相应采集电路的综合一致性极大地影响处理结果的精确度,必须测试并进行必要的校正。在实验室构建了接收声系测试系统,使用主频10 k Hz的单极子声源辐射声场,测量了阵列化声系中每个换能器单独正对单极声源时所有通道的采集波形,分析了波形的时域和频域特征,对声系站内、站间的各通道综合一致性进行了评价并给出接收通道一致性不好时的校正公式;对比了相控接收子阵与单个阵元的接收特性。实验结果表明,该声系各通道综合一致性较好,不需要校正;软件相控处理后,接收阵的能量比单个阵元强、指向性更好,有利于提高有用信号的信噪比和空间的探测分辨率。     

Surface-bonded fiber optic Sagnac sensors for ultrasound detection

This paper describes a fiber optic sensor suitable for remote sensing and multi-point detection of ultrasound. This ultrasound sensor is based on the surface-bonded fiber optic Sagnac interferometer with the output fringe visibility of 1; it consists of a laser source, an ordinary single mode fiber delay line, a fiber coupler, a phase modulator and polarization controllers. For the validation of the sensor, surface acoustic waves and Lamb waves are excited by illuminating a steel specimen with an array of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser-generated line sources and the measurement of laser-generated ultrasonic waves are performed on the specimen surface using the surface-mounting fiber optic Sagnac sensor. The surface-bonded fiber optic sensor developed in this study has a simple configuration for detection of ultrasonic waves. Effectiveness of surface-bonded fiber optic Sagnac sensors for remote sensing of ultrasound and in situ monitoring of structures is investigated. The capability of multi-point detection of ultrasound by this Sagnac sensor is also discussed.     

圆环形聚焦声场的构建与调控

提出了一种由径向振动模式的圆环形压电换能器晶片组成的圆柱形阵列换能器结构, 依据阵元激励信号的相位调控机理, 推导了圆环形聚焦声场的调控公式, 在三维空间中构建了圆环形聚焦声场, 实现了对其聚焦区域大小、聚焦圆环半径以及轴向位置移动的调控. 理论分析和仿真研究表明, 所提出的圆柱形阵列换能器实现了对圆环形聚焦声场的调控. 为检测超声、功率超声、医学超声等应用领域提供了一种可实现的新型圆环形可调控聚焦声场.     

Simulation on thermoelastic stress field and laser ultrasound waveform in non-metallic materials by using FEM

The thermoelastically generated stress and ultrasound fields in non-metallic materials by laser illumination are presented by using finite element method (FEM). The model accounts for the effects of thermal diffusion and optical penetration, as well as the finite width and duration of the laser source. The numerical results show that the strength and feature of the force source can be related to the heat input and certain material properties. The relationships between the stress waves and the ultrasound waveforms, particularly the precursor, are analyzed. The typical surface acoustic waves (SAWs) and the bulk waveforms at the epicenter are presented to illustrate the generated field and provide insight to the relevance of different mechanism taken into account in the model. PACS 02.70.Dh; 43.35.+d; 42.62.-b     

Acoustic-electromagnetic slow waves in a periodical defective piezoelectric slab

Coupled slow waves, slow acoustic waves, and electromagnetic waves are simultaneously achieved based on a piezoelectric material, in which a line defect is created within a honeycomb lattice array of cylindrical holes etched in a LiNbO_3 slab. Finite element simulations in frequency domain and time domain demonstrate that a highly localized slow mode is obtained in the defect. Owing to the piezoelectricity of LiNbO_3, acoustic and electromagnetic waves are coupled with each other and transmit along the line defect. Therefore, in addition to a slow acoustic wave, an electromagnetic wave with a group velocity even lower than conventional acoustic waves is achieved.     

The melt structural characteristics concerning the interfacial reaction in SiC(p)/Al composites

We investigated the YAG laser-generated ultrasonic wave in a solid with an array of rectilinear sources in the melting regime. By adapting the melting rectilinear sources, a 31.2 gain factor of amplitude of the excited ultrasound can be obtained for the aluminum (Al) sample in comparison with the ultrasound generated by rectilinear sources in the thermoelastic regime. In the melting regime, the sample surface remains undamaged during the inspection. Calculations and experimental results show that the array characteristics and the detection point will decide the increase of amplitude, center frequency, bandwidth, and directivity pattern of the narrow-band ultrasound signals generated by a melting-source array. Through our research, the array of melting sources is proved to be a useful tool to enhance the generation efficiency and detection sensitivity in nondestructive inspection.     

Generation and detection of nano ultrasound waves with a multiple strained layer structure

In this paper a multiple strained layer structure with multiple quantum wells as a piezoelectric transducer is proposed for generating and detecting nano ultrasound waves with nanometer wavelength and tera hertz frequency. By inducing femtosecond optical pulses at this strained structure, internal piezoelectric field is changed. As a result longitudinal acoustic phonon oscillations can be treated as nano acoustic waves. It could be noticed in simulated cases that detection of nano ultrasound waves can be used in non destructive testing and high accuracy measurements with this structure. It is also shown that the MQW structure design how influences in generated nano acoustic waves.     

分布反馈式光纤激光水听器拖曳线列阵实验研究

为了进一步增大光纤拖曳阵的探测距离,研制了缆径为16mm的32元分布反馈式光纤激光水听器拖曳线列阵.阵元在10~2 000Hz频率范围内的平均声压灵敏度为-142.7dB(re 1rad/μPa),波动幅度小于±2dB.基于声光调制器的时分、波分联合复用技术实现了32元光纤激光水听器的多路复用,各个阵元之间以及各个通道之间的串扰均小于-40dB,并完成了静态和动态拖曳湖上实验.实验结果表明,研制的32元分布反馈式光纤激光水听器拖曳线列阵无论是在静态,还是在6~16节的动态拖曳状态,都能对目标形成稳定的波束指向,与GPS轨迹记录完全一致,展现了分布反馈式光纤激光水听器拖曳线列阵在工程上的应用前景.     

Directivity calculation with experimental verification for a conformal array of underwater acoustic transducers

The radiation directivity of a complicated conformal array of underwater acoustic transducers is presented based on the boundary ＂element method. It includes the element directivity of each transducer, the natural beam pattern and the controlled beam pattern of the transducer array. At first, the boundary element model of the conformal array is built up, and then the boundary condition is exerted on the model according to the design and environment in which the transducer array is used, and the radiation directivity of the conformal array is calculated. An experiment has been done to measure the directivity in an anechoic water tank. The calculated and the experimental results are compared and analyzed. They are consistent to each other. It is shown that the boundary element method together with the detailed calculations is successful to simulate and predict the radiation directivity of an underwater acoustic transducer array.     

平面超薄准直器件的参数依赖性

本文设计了一具有高效强指向性的平面超薄人工结构,当平面声波垂直入射到该结构时,若中心狭缝处产生的F-P(Fabry-Perot)共振和两侧类亥姆霍兹凹槽的共振频率耦合时,会产生一具有高度指向性的准直声束。通过对结构两侧的凹槽阵列的作用、凹槽周期D和凹槽数量r的探讨,发现凹槽阵列可将散射声波转换成声表面波,大大提高了透射效率,同时结构的共振频率、声透射率和准直效果和D、r的变化关系不大,说明对该结构准直效应产生影响的是F-P共振频率和类亥姆霍兹共振器共振频率,与布拉格散射无关。这一发现有助于在降低结构尺寸的同时仍保持结构的有效性,为后续指向性器件的应用提供了理论依据。