基于虚拟源技术的双层固体结构超声成像

本文提出虚拟源与合成孔径技术相结合的成像方法来实现对双层结构的内部缺陷成像。通过相控阵探头延时聚焦的方法在界面形成虚拟声源,并对有机玻璃/钢双层结构中的聚焦声场进行了仿真,结果显示聚焦声束穿过界面后形成扩散球面波,适合采用合成孔径聚焦技术成像。实验中采用128阵元探头对含有横穿孔缺陷的有机玻璃/钢样品进行测量和波形采集,应用自适应滤波方法抑制界面回波,最后对波形使用合成孔径聚焦成像,得到的图像比B扫描成像具有较高的信噪比和横向分辨率,并且分辨率不随深度变化。     

圆柱类构件超声相控阵聚焦模型

在利用平面相控阵超声换能器对圆柱类构件检测时,受曲界面结构引起的入射波和回波时延的影响,扫描声束的波阵面产生弯曲,在利用传统迭代遍历算法计算延迟时间时效率低,无法发挥相控阵换能器检测优势。针对上述问题,建立了一种基于圆柱类构件特征和耦合介质特性的超声相控阵扫描成像的聚焦模型。该模型基于换能器、耦合介质、圆柱类构件材料特性和几何关系以及声线模型和折射定律,建立了耦合介质及被检构件的声速、曲面曲率半径、阵列与曲面间的距离等关联的延迟时间聚焦控制模型。利用该模型计算出的延时时间,对各阵元发射时间进行控制,从而实现扫描声束的聚焦。该文以液体和有机玻璃制介质楔块为例,对圆柱钢曲面的相控阵声束聚焦进行了仿真实验,结果表明该文方法计算效率显著提升,同时声束可以在预设位置实现聚焦,验证了该模型在计算效率上的优势与有效性。     

带斜楔相控声束偏转聚焦延时特性研究

带斜楔的相控阵超声检测广泛应用于低碳钢薄壁工件焊缝的检测,研究带斜楔的相控阵超声偏转聚焦检测延时法则和对应的声场将使检测可靠性进一步提高。本文利用费马原理探究了相控阵超声探头辐射声波至楔块中,在楔块-工件平面界面发生模式转换入射到工件中的横波聚焦时各阵元延时的计算方法,数值求解指定焦点时各阵元的延时,并利用计算得到的延时进行声场仿真和实验测量,发现声波能很好的聚焦在目标点,仿真和实验结果吻合。     

超声虚源成像中自适应双向空间逐点聚焦方法

针对传统超声成像中图像分辨率和对比度随深度下降的问题,提出了一种基于虚源的自适应双向空间逐点聚焦超声成像方法。首先,使用超声换能器线列阵分子孔径分别定焦点发射和接收超声波,采集扫描线数据;然后将焦点视为虚拟点声源,计算虚源到空间成像点的延时,利用合成孔径原理再次进行空间逐点聚焦;在合成过程中采用相干系数进行自适应加权。采用空间脉冲响应法对不同深度的点目标和囊目标仿真成像,从而量化分辨率和对比度。在F数为1.5、焦距为10 mm时(对应子孔径阵元数为17)可以获得与64通道定焦点发射、动态聚焦接收相当的图像质量且在所有深度上保持一致。实际硬件平台的体模成像实验进一步验证了方法的有效性。该方法可在整个成像深度范围内保持和常规成像一致的分辨率和对比度,从而获得更优的整体成像效果。     

超声虚源成像中自适应双向空间逐点聚焦方法

针对传统超声成像中图像分辨率和对比度随深度下降的问题,提出了一种基于虚源的自适应双向空间逐点聚焦超声成像方法。首先,使用超声换能器线列阵分子孔径分别定焦点发射和接收超声波,采集扫描线数据;然后将焦点视为虚拟点声源,计算虚源到空间成像点的延时,利用合成孔径原理再次进行空间逐点聚焦;在合成过程中采用相干系数进行自适应加权。采用空间脉冲响应法对不同深度的点目标和囊目标仿真成像,从而量化分辨率和对比度。在F数为1.5、焦距为10 mm时(对应子孔径阵元数为17)可以获得与64通道定焦点发射、动态聚焦接收相当的图像质量且在所有深度上保持一致。实际硬件平台的体模成像实验进一步验证了方法的有效性。该方法可在整个成像深度范围内保持和常规成像一致的分辨率和对比度,从而获得更优的整体成像效果。      

基于矢量阵的运动声源柱面聚焦定位方法试验研究

本文基于被动合成孔径原理, 在建立运动声源矢量阵近场柱面聚焦测量模型的基础上, 分别研究了适用于单频线谱信号和宽带连续谱信号的矢量阵柱面聚焦定位方法, 通过数值仿真计算了该方法在多种误差条件下的定位精度, 并进一步通过舱段模型试验对该方法的工程实用性和正确性进行了详细的分析和论证. 舱段模型试验结果表明, 柱面聚焦定位结果与壳体振动能量分布规律符合较好, 该方法不仅能真实反映声源位置信息, 而且能反映不同频带内声源能量分布的相对大小, 具有良好的定位效果.     

阵元固体指向性补偿对超声全聚焦成像的 优化研究*

超声全聚焦成像中,声波的传播受到阵元指向性的影响,位于阵元不同方位的缺陷成像幅度不同。缺陷相对阵列中心偏角越大,回波幅度越低,容易造成漏检。为提高超声全聚焦算法对固体中大偏角缺陷的成像能力,该文引入了矩形阵元固体指向性函数,建立了基于固体指向性补偿的超声全聚焦优化算法,利用指向性系数对不同角度区域的成像进行幅值补偿。实验结果表明,相对于基本超声全聚焦和传统指向性补偿的超声全聚焦算法,该文固体指向性优化算法对大偏角缺陷的成像幅度补偿效果更好,检测灵敏度更高,有效避免了缺陷漏检,扩展了超声全聚焦算法检测范围。     

非线性合成孔径聚焦超声成像

论文介绍了合成孔径聚焦超声成像系统原理。建立了一个无损检测超声成像系统。同时，为了进一步提高分辨率，设计了基于相关系数的非线性合成孔径聚焦算法。然后利用此算法对试块成像，结果表明，与延时叠加合成孔径算法相比，基于相关性分析的非线性合成孔径算法提高了图像的分辨率，改善了图像质量。     

被动合成孔径的非对称双线阵相位校正方法研究

提出了一种基于被动合成孔径的相位校正方法,有效地解决了因为首阵元未对齐(非对称)而引起的双线阵左右舷误判问题。利用被动合成孔径的方法,将其中一个单阵通过相位校正合成为一个虚拟单线阵,新的虚拟单线阵和另一个实际的单线阵构成首阵元对齐的双线阵,恢复了双线阵的对称性,因此可以纠正非对称双线阵导致的左右舷误判。通过数值仿真和海试试验数据的对比分析,说明这种算法可以解决非对称双线阵左右舷误判问题,且方法简单易于实际应用。     

基于最差性能优化的运动声源稳健聚焦定位识别方法研究

基于被动合成孔径原理,提出了一种具有高稳健性的运动声源高分辨聚焦定位识别方法.该方法采用综合优化手段,通过矢量最大似然聚焦定位算法生成虚拟阵列坐标及数据矩阵,进而利用基于最差性能优化的稀疏虚拟阵列聚焦算法,获取稳健的高分辨定位识别效果.理论及仿真研究表明,该方法对于非匀速运动以及与基阵存在运动倾角的复杂情况具有较强的适用性,聚焦空间谱表现出更大的动态范围、更为尖锐的聚焦峰尺度以及更强的背景噪声起伏压制能力.湖上试验进一步验证,在高分辨最小方差信号无畸变响应法(MVDR)聚焦算法动态范围仅为3.5 dB的相 关键词： 稳健性 运动噪声源定位识别 矢量阵 最差性能优化     

Propagation in an elastic wedge using the virtual source technique

The virtual source technique, which is based on the boundary integral method, provides the means to impose boundary conditions on arbitrarily shaped boundaries by replacing them by a collection of sources whose amplitudes are determined from the boundary conditions. In this paper the virtual source technique is used to model propagation of waves in a range-dependent ocean overlying an elastic bottom with arbitrarily shaped ocean-bottom interface. The method is applied to propagation in an elastic Pekeris waveguide, an acoustic wedge, and an elastic wedge. In the case of propagation in an elastic Pekeris waveguide, the results agree very well with those obtained from the wavenumber integral technique, as they do with the solution of the parabolic equation (PE) technique in the case of propagation in an acoustic wedge. The results for propagation in an elastic wedge qualitatively agree with those obtained from an elastic PE solution.     

Experiences with synthetic aperture focusing technique in the field

The detection and evaluation of defects in industrial components relies strongly on ultrasonic inspection techniques. Distance gain size (DG) or reference reflector methods can be improved concerning their localization, signal-to-noise ratio and sizing accuracy by the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT). To obtain a high quality image, parameters like focal probe versus contact technique probe, achieved resolution or features of SAFT images compared with B-scan images are discussed. The implementation of SAFT in a CAD environment allows us to present stacked 2D reconstructions dynamically. On a cladded testblock with half-penny shaped cracks the advantage of combining CAD with SAFT is shown. A 3D SAFT example finalizes the overview of two decades of experience in applying this technique.     

Approximate reconstruction of sound fields close to the source surface using spherical nearfield acoustical holography

This paper presents an investigation of the reconstruction of sound field parameters close to the surface of arbitrarily shaped sound sources. The field is reconstructed using nearfield acoustical holography (NAH) in spherical coordinates. Of particular interest are source shapes where the Rayleigh hypothesis is violated. To overcome the limitation of the minimal sphere given by the validity restriction of the Rayleigh hypothesis an algorithm is proposed for extracting local information from the nonconvergent NAH solution. For the assessment of the results an appropriate virtual test rig is developed employing the Kirchhoff-Helmholtz integral theorem.     

Non-linear algorithms based on SAFT ideas for reconstruction of flaws

The main idea and the assumptions of time domain synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) are discussed. It is underlined that the major SAFT assumption is that the flaw can be represented by a number of single non-interacting scalar point scatterers, which act as point sources after illumination with the incident wavefield. As a result some important classes of flaws are incorrectly reconstructed by means of SAFT. Among them are cracks from which reflected signals are similar to those from mirror-shaped flaws. Different non-linear SAFT algorithms proposed earlier by the author are discussed and compared. Among them are SAFT with non-linear normalization (NSAFT), second order SAFT, and the radial tomography technique. The principles of these algorithms are discussed. Then their advantages and disadvantages are analysed. Unfortunately each algorithm cannot be considered universal as a classical SAFT, but for many important cases these algorithms are useful for solving inverse problems in ultrasonics. The ideas of non-linear SAFT algorithms are illustrated by physical experiments.     

Three-dimensional imaging with detector arrays on arbitrarily shaped surfaces

Conventional multiview imaging systems commonly utilize a planar lenslet array and a rigid, flat image sensor in the pickup stage to capture different views of the scene. In this Letter, we remove this constraint by proposing the concept of three-dimensional (3D) imaging with detector arrays that may conform to arbitrarily shaped surfaces or platforms. A nonplanar detector array configuration can be used in combination with a flexible lenslet array to capture different views. The orientation and optical axes of individual image sensing elements could vary. A point-by-point 3D reconstruction algorithm is described and the feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated through simulated imagery.     

Reconstruction of a complex-shaped defect from the known arrival time of the reflected ultrasonic wave

The problem of reconstructing the boundary of an arbitrarily shaped defect formed inside an elastic body from the measured time of arrival of the reflected ultrasonic wave in the echo method is considered. The characteristic size of the defect is assumed to be greater than the wavelength, and the defect is irradiated from the far-field zone, which means that the incident wave can be considered as plane. An algorithm is developed for reconstructing the convex envelope of a nonconvex defect from the arrival times of echo signals measured at different angles with the use of circular scanning.     

Synthetic aperture imaging using sources with finite aperture: deconvolution of the spatial impulse response

A method for ultrasonic synthetic aperture imaging using finite-sized transducers is introduced that is based on a compact, linear, discrete model of the ultrasonic measurement system developed using matrix formalism. Using this model a time-domain algorithm for deconvolution of the transducer's spatial impulse responses (SIRs) is developed that is based on a minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. The algorithm takes the form of a spatiotemporal filter that compensates for the SIRs associated with a finite-sized transducer at every point of the processed image. A major advantage of the proposed method is that it can be used for any transducer, provided that its associated SIRs are known. This is in contrast to the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT), which treats the transducer as a point source. The performance of the method is evaluated with simulations and experiments, performed in water using a linear phased array. The results obtained using the proposed method are compared to those obtained with a classical time-domain SAFT algorithm. For a finite aperture source, it is clearly shown that the resolution obtained using the proposed method is superior to that obtained using the SAFT algorithm.     

Thermodynamic calculations of linear chain molecules using a SAFT model

The recently proposed model of statistical associated-fluid theory (SAFT) by Tang, Y. and Lu, B. C.-Y. (2000, Fluid Phase Equilibria, 171, 27) is applied to phase diagram calculations of non-associating and associating linear chain molecules in which n-alkanes and n-alkenes (representing the non-associating type) and water, 1-alkanols, acids and amines (representing the associating type) are investigated. For polar molecules, the dipole-dipole interaction is taken into consideration. Overall, the proposed model yields similar accuracy to the original SAFT model, It is found that the volume and energy parameters of non-associating chain segments in the same family follow certain linear relations with the carbon number. Remarkably, these linear relations are found to hold equally well in associating chain molecules. These observations suggest that SAFT may be implemented in a more predictive manner. Furthermore, the inclusion of the contribution from dipole-dipole interaction improves the calculated values for strong polar molecules like water.