Reconstruction of the acoustic impedance profile in a plate using an inverse spectral procedure

An inverse spectral procedure was applied to reconstruct the acoustic impedance profile along the thickness direction of a plate using its thickness resonance frequencies, density and thickness. For a successful reconstruction, the material-property profile must be symmetric about the mid-plane of the plate. Several cases of numerical simulations, including plates with a few layers and with a high number of layers are described. The calculated resonance frequencies were used to reconstruct the acoustic impedance profile, a process that was successful for all cases. We assume that a plate with a high number of layers, each with a different but constant acoustic impedance, simulates a plate with a smoothly varying acoustic impedance profile. It can be concluded that such a plate, which generates small, virtually undetectable, internally reflected waves, can also be reconstructed. In the special case of a plate of unknown thickness and unknown but constant density, the method is still useful, because a relative variation of the material property can be reconstructed using only the resonance frequencies. An experiment using a resonance-mode electromagnetic acoustic transducer (resonance-mode EMAT) is also described. EMAT is a non-contact ultrasonic method that can measure thickness resonance frequencies, making it appropriate for this method. Some examples of applications are measurement of the temperature profile inside a rolled metal sheet, measurement of a clad metal plate, and monitoring of a metal casting.     

Numerical simulation of electromagnetic acoustic transducers using distributed point source method

In spite of many advances in analytical and numerical modeling techniques for solving different engineering problems, an efficient solution technique for wave propagation modeling of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) system is still missing. Distributed point source method (DPSM) is a newly developed semi-analytical technique developed since 2000 by Placko and Kundu (2007) [12] that is very powerful and straightforward for solving various engineering problems, including acoustic and electromagnetic modeling problems. In this study DPSM has been employed to model the Lorentz type EMAT with a meander line and flat spiral type coil. The problem of wave propagation has been solved and eddy currents and Lorentz forces have been calculated. The displacement field has been obtained as well. While modeling the Lorentz force the effect of dynamic magnetic field has been considered that most current analyses ignore. Results from this analysis have been compared with the finite element method (FEM) based predictions. It should be noted that with the current state of knowledge this problem can be solved only by FEM.     

Shear horizontal (SH) ultrasound wave propagation around smooth corners

Shear horizontal (SH) ultrasound guided waves are being used in an increasing number of non-destructive testing (NDT) applications. One advantage SH waves have over some wave types, is their ability to propagate around curved surfaces with little energy loss; to understand the geometries around which they could propagate, the wave reflection must be quantified. A 0.83 mm thick aluminium sheet was placed in a bending machine, and a shallow bend was introduced. Periodically-poled magnet (PPM) electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs), for emission and reception of SH waves, were placed on the same side of the bend, so that reflected waves were received. Additional bending of the sheet demonstrated a clear relationship between bend angles and the reflected signal. Models suggest that the reflection is a linear superposition of the reflections from each bend segment, such that sharp turns lead to a larger peak-to-peak amplitude, in part due to increased phase coherence.     

Inspection of interfaces between corroded steel bars and concrete using the combination of a piezoelectric zirconate-titanate transducer and an electromagnetic acoustic transducer

We have conducted an inspection of the interface between a steel bar and concrete using the combination of a piezoelectric zirconate-titanate transducer (PZT) and an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). The PZT is used for generating elastic waves by mechanical vibration and then the EMAT is used for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic guided waves. This arrangement is made in order to overcome the major shortcomings of the PZT, i.e., the requirement of a couplant, and of the EMAT, i.e., relatively low transmitted ultrasonic energy. To investigate the applicability of this technique in the field, outside the laboratory environment, the experiments are conducted on different types of steel bars: corrosion-free, naturally corroded, and zinc-coated as well as corroded bars. It is shown that the PZT-EMAT combination is very effective for inspecting the steel bar-concrete interface. Using this technique, small separation at the steel bar-concrete interface can be effectively detected for corroded as well as corrosion-free specimens. This method can be applied in the field to pre-stressed tendons and soil nails, where one side of the reinforcement is exposed.     

Wideband low frequency generation and detection of Lamb and Rayleigh waves using electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs)

This paper describes a new type of non-contact electromagnetic transducer (EMAT) that can be used to generate both Lamb and Rayleigh waves on metal samples. The generated waves are wideband and low frequency with a dominant frequency content centred at approximately 200 kHz extending to around 500 kHz. The transducers have been used on both aluminium and steel, but operate more efficiently on aluminium due to its lower electrical resistance and density when compared to steel.     

表面波电磁声换能器的设计

简要介绍了产生表面波的电磁声换能器（EMAT）的工作原理，设计，制作了收发分开的两种EMAT，并建立了实验测试系统、测量了信号和发射EMAT提离距离的关系曲线，研究了激励脉冲个数、接收线圈的匝数对换能器信号的影响等。     

基于电磁超声的天然气管道机器人测控系统设计

分析了国内天然气管道现状及检测维护情况,针对目前天然气管道裂纹缺陷检测问题,采用电磁超声检测方法,并结合虚拟仪器技术,设计了天然气管道机器人测控系统。系统以PXI模块化仪器平台为核心,结合数据采集模块和运动控制模块构建了硬件平台,以LabVIEW编程语言为基础开发了人机交互软件平台。该系统能够控制机器人在管道内的运动,并可在管道内壁激励和接收超声导波。整个系统可靠性高、扩展性强、人机交互界面友好,满足了机器人管内电磁超声检测作业时的运动控制、数据采集及处理要求。     

Ultrasound generation with high power and coil only EMAT concepts

Electro-magnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) are intended as non-contact and non-destructive ultrasound transducers for metallic material. The transmitted intensities from EMATS are modest, particularly at notable lift off distances. Some time ago a concept for a “coil only EMAT” was presented, without static magnetic field. In this contribution, such compact “coil only EMATs” with effective areas of 1–5 cm² were driven to excessive power levels at MHz frequencies, using pulsed power technologies. RF induction currents of 10 kA and tens of Megawatts are applied. With increasing power the electroacoustic conversion efficiency also increases. The total effect is of second order or quadratic, therefore non-linear and progressive, and yields strong ultrasound signals up to kW/cm² at MHz frequencies in the metal. Even at considerable lift off distances (cm) the ultrasound can be readily detected. Test materials are aluminum, ferromagnetic steel and stainless steel (non-ferromagnetic). Thereby, most metal types are represented. The technique is compared experimentally with other non-contact methods: laser pulse induced ultrasound and spark induced ultrasound, both damaging to the test object’s surface. At small lift off distances, the intensity from this EMAT concept clearly outperforms the laser pulses or heavy spark impacts.     

Improving the signal amplitude of meandering coil EMATs by using ribbon soft magnetic flux concentrators (MFC)

This paper presents a new method of improving the ultrasonic signal amplitude from a meander line EMAT by using soft magnetic alloy ribbon (Fe₆₀Ni₁₀V₁₀B₂₀) as a magnetic flux concentrator (MFC). The flux concentrator is a thin soft amorphous magnetic material (Fe₆₀Ni₁₀V₁₀B₂₀) which is very sensitive to a small flux change. The MFC is used with the EMAT to improve the signal amplitude and it was observed that the peak signal amplitude increases by a factor of two compared to the signal without MFC. Two dimensional numerical models have been developed for the EMAT with MFC to quantify the improvement of the received signal amplitudes. Model calculations and experiments have been carried out for a wide range of ultrasonic frequencies (500 kHz-1 MHz) in different materials.     

基于电磁超声换能器的火车轮探伤研究

利用电磁超声探伤方法对检测火车轮表面及近表面缺陷进行实验探究,从而保证车轮质量,避免事故发生。文章介绍了火车车轮电磁超声探伤的原理和方法。根据电磁超声表面波辐射扩散角的分布情况,得出利用电磁超声表面波进行车轮踏面探伤的可行性。将制作的小巧换能器探头与便携式电磁超声探伤仪配合,能够实现对车轮的快速探伤检测。通过大量的车轮探伤实验,检出了典型车轮踏面缺陷。根据检测波形特点并结合生产工艺情况,分析得出产生缺陷的原因。研究表明:电磁超声无损检测方法能够快速、有效检出车轮踏面缺陷。