Quantitative Schlieren measurements of a high energy electromagnetic transducer acoustic shock field

Schlieren photography has been used to analyse quantitatively the acoustic field of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT). By measuring the angle through which the rays are refracted it is possible to compute the refractive index gradient and thus determine both the absolute and complex pressure related structures of the images. Using this method, planar and focused shock transients generated by the EMAT have been evaluated and compared with transducer derived pressure measurements. The peak pressure in the unfocused shock was found to be 3.2 MPa and 4.6 MPa for the Schlieren and piezoelectric transducer measurements respectively. Corresponding values for the focused shock-wave agreed to within experimental error at about 19 MPa.     

A frequency selective acoustic transducer for directional Lamb wave sensing

A frequency selective acoustic transducer (FSAT) is proposed for directional sensing of guided waves. The considered FSAT design is characterized by a spiral configuration in wavenumber domain, which leads to a spatial arrangement of the sensing material producing output signals whose dominant frequency component is uniquely associated with the direction of incoming waves. The resulting spiral FSAT can be employed both for directional sensing and generation of guided waves, without relying on phasing and control of a large number of channels. The analytical expression of the shape of the spiral FSAT is obtained through the theoretical formulation for continuously distributed active material as part of a shaped piezoelectric device. Testing is performed by forming a discrete array through the points of the measurement grid of a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. The discrete array approximates the continuous spiral FSAT geometry, and provides the flexibility to test several configurations. The experimental results demonstrate the strong frequency dependent directionality of the spiral FSAT and suggest its application for frequency selective acoustic sensors, to be employed for the localization of broadband acoustic events, or for the directional generation of Lamb waves for active interrogation of structural health.     

一种高灵敏压电平面水声换能器

设计并制作了一种高灵敏压电平面水声换能器。该换能器敏感元件是对1-3-2型压电复合材料结构的改进,即在带基底的压电陶瓷小柱阵列间不注入聚合物,并在其上表面直接覆盖金属板,构成“带基底的压电小柱阵列+金属盖板”结构敏感元件(称为“空气填充型”敏感元件)。对“空气填充型”敏感元件的谐振频率进行了理论计算和有限元仿真,与实测结果较吻合。为便于对比性能,同时制作了同尺寸“1-3-2型压电复合材料+金属盖板”结构敏感元件(称为“聚合物填充型”敏感元件)换能器。分别对“空气填充型”和“聚合物填充型”敏感元件换能器的有效机电耦合系数、发送电压响应和接收灵敏度进行有限元仿真和实测,结果均显示,“空气填充型”敏感元件换能器具有较高的接收灵敏度,相较于“聚合物填充型”敏感元件换能器可提高21 dB。该敏感元件换能器能有效提高灵敏度,可为研制高灵敏换能器提供参考。     

A large ultrasonic bounded acoustic pulse transducer for acoustic transmission goniometry: modeling and calibration

A large, flat ultrasonic transmitter and a small receiver are developed for studies of material properties in acoustic transmission goniometry. While the character of the wave field produced by the transmitter can be considered as a plane wave as observed by the receiver, diffraction effects are noticeable near critical angles and result in the appearance of weak but detectable arrivals. Transmitted ultrasonic waveforms are acquired in one elastic silicate glass and two visco-elastic acrylic glass sample plates as a function of the angle of incidence. Phase velocities are determined from modeling of the shape of curves of the observed arrival times versus angle of incidence. The waveform observations are modeled using a phase propagation technique that incorporates full wave behavior including attenuation. Subtle diffraction effects are captured in addition to the main bounded pulse propagation. The full propagation modeling allows for various arrivals to be unambiguously interpreted. The results of the plane wave solution are close to the full wave propagation modeling without any corrections to the observed wave field. This is an advantage as it places confidence that later analyses can use simpler plane wave solutions without the need for additional diffraction corrections. A further advantage is that the uniform bounded acoustic pulse allows for the detection of weak arrivals such as a low energy edge diffraction observed in our experiments.     

A high-frequency warm shallow water acoustic communications channel model and measurements

Underwater acoustic communication is a core enabling technology with applications in ocean monitoring using remote sensors and autonomous underwater vehicles. One of the more challenging underwater acoustic communication channels is the medium-range very shallow warm-water channel, common in tropical coastal regions. This channel exhibits two key features-extensive time-varying multipath and high levels of non-Gaussian ambient noise due to snapping shrimp-both of which limit the performance of traditional communication techniques. A good understanding of the communications channel is key to the design of communication systems. It aids in the development of signal processing techniques as well as in the testing of the techniques via simulation. In this article, a physics-based channel model for the very shallow warm-water acoustic channel at high frequencies is developed, which are of interest to medium-range communication system developers. The model is based on ray acoustics and includes time-varying statistical effects as well as non-Gaussian ambient noise statistics observed during channel studies. The model is calibrated and its accuracy validated using measurements made at sea.     

Evaluation strategies for multi-layer, multi-material ellipsometric measurements

In order to extract the physical properties from an ellipsometric measurement, an optical model of the sample has to be assumed first, because the theory of ellipsometry consists on one-directional computation only (there is no reverse function). Then, the ellipsometric evaluation is an iterative optimising procedure with high time consumption feature and the reliability depends strongly on the a-priori information. The faster the computers are today, the more exactly the physical properties of either the sample or the process can be evaluated. However, the increasing number of the parameters and so, the dimensions of the search space leads to a combinatorial explosion. In the case of larger search space is needed (either less a-priori information is available or more parameters are used), the error surface of the parameter space can be quite “hilly” and may contain even numerous local minima. In the lack of precise a-priori information the Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) gradient search is generally started out of the decreasing area of the global minimum and therefore, it is inappropriate to find the solution. Therefore, there is a hard need of more complex evaluating strategies, which combines the algorithms to make the evaluation more reliable. Different point selection strategies, an extended criteria function and combined algorithms were applied on porous silicon multi-layer and polycrystalline measurements to demonstrate a higher convergence speed (effectiveness) and more reliability.     

一种磁场优化结构电磁超声传感器设计*

为了进一步增强电磁超声检测技术在管道厚度测量领域的检测能力,该文对电磁超声传感器(EMAT)的结构进行了优化。提出了多磁铁对称分布型EMAT,能实现更小的磁铁体积,产生更强的表面剩磁强度。采用在硅钢表面开槽的方式限制涡流形成的区域,解决了涡流对测量的影响。建立厚度测量实验系统,对比出单磁铁型与多磁铁对称分布型EMAT在不同提离距离上检测信号的变化规律。结果表明,多磁铁对称分布型结构可通过增强EMAT的偏置磁场达到信噪比更优的效果。采用耐高温探头外壳和钐钴磁铁,提高了EMAT探头在高温环境下的检测性能。     

Time-domain sweeplets for acoustic measurements

This paper proposes new types of time-domain generated sine sweeps for impulse response measurements. A general time-domain analytical formulation method, combined with numeric phase alignment and frequency-domain inverse filtering is presented. It is applied to derive three new families of controllable spectrum sine sweeps called sweeplets, capable of matching 1/f^β background noises, producing finite band defocusing and single frequency focusing shapes. Mathematical properties concentrating on practical control of the signal shapes are examined. Effects of various perturbations, such as stationary and transient background noise, harmonic distortion and finite length are presented. Applicability of the proposed method is experimentally verified by a room acoustic measurement example.     

A preliminary study of an isodynamic transducer for use in active acoustic materials

Active control of the acoustic impedance of walls in rooms allows fine control of the reverberation in auditoria. Such active materials may use locally reacting cells comprising a transducer connected to an electronic control circuit. In this paper, a simple feedback circuit based on a linear combination of the pressure at the transducer diaphragm and the velocity of the diaphragm is presented. We then discuss the desired characteristics of a transducer dedicated to our application, and show that the isodynamic technology is an interesting candidate, especially if using rubber magnet bars. We present results from simulations involving a finite element model of such transducer, which predict a good control over two frequency decades. Preliminary experimental results obtained with a basic prototype of isodynamic transducer are encouraging, yielding an absorption coefficient approaching 1 (>0.7) from 30 up to 500 Hz. We think that far better results can be obtained (specially in the “super-reflecting” case) with closer control over the various mechanical parameters. Future work will also address the optimisation of the magnet geometry.     

A cochlear model for acoustic emissions

Variability in cochlear emission properties among different species, particularly humans and small mammals, and within individuals in the same species, is modeled by a cochlear nonlinear transmission line. The difference between humans and animals is largely explained by a lower cochlear input impedance in human ears than in cats, gerbils, or chinchillas. Inconstancy in emission properties among individual human or animal subjects is related to structural variability among ears, which can be the result of a nonuniform connection between the outer hair cells cilia and the tectorial membrane. These structural differences are modeled by a nonuniform cochlear partition resistance along the cochlear length. The model predicts that an ear which has a uniform cochlear partition resistance and an adequate cochlear input impedance will emit acoustic distortion products (ADP), but not spontaneous acoustic emission (SAE), nor click-evoked emission (CE). Only a nonuniform cochlea emits SAE and CE in addition to enhanced ADPs. The model predictions agree quantitatively with cochlear emission data from humans and animals.     

A stochastic model for acoustic attenuation

Propagation of waves in gases or liquids has been observed for a long time in homogeneous or non-homogeneous media. In acoustics, attenuation is a significant problem which is studied mainly through the 'equations of change' of fluid mechanics. These equations are based only on the macroscopic characteristics of the medium. Microscopic variations, related to other phenomena like Brownian motion or critical opalescence, are not taken into account. This paper provides a random one-ray model. This model explains the proportionality between the standard attenuation and the product between length and frequency squared in a logarithmic scale. The wave is shown to be necessarily associated with noise, even if this noise cannot be observed by devices. Furthermore, the 'coefficient of variation' defined in turbulent environments can be explained as a random version of the usual coefficient of attenuation.     

A note on acoustic decay measurements

Two sources of experimental errors in acoustic decay measurements are investigated: smoothing produced by the averaging device and “ringing” of the bandpass filter. Both linear and exponential averaging are considered. It is concluded that if it is only the average slope of the decay curve which is of interest, it suffices that the integration time of the detector is less than one quarter of the reverberation time of the system under test (with linear averaging), that the “reverberation time” of the detector is less than the half of the reverberation time of the system (with exponential averaging), and that the product of the filter bandwidth and the reverberation time of the system is at least 16. The requirements are much stronger if the important initial part of the decay is needed, however.     

水声换能器电声特性的一种分析方法

本文给出一种有限元——亥姆霍茨积分方程结合法,计算有限长圆柱形水声换能器的电声特性。通过对一例换能器空气中及水中的电声特性的计算并与实测值比较,证明这种方法是很有效的。     

横波远探测测井换能器研究

为提高偶极子横波远探测反射波的信噪比和增加其探测距离,根据偶极子井孔模式波的激发特性及反射波传播特征分析,研制了基于三叠片的低频大功率偶极子的横波远探测换能器,以降低模式波的相对能量和增加反射波的相对能量。为了得到满足要求的低频大功率偶极换能器,采用有限元方法对现有三叠片进行了优化改进,得到一种符合设计要求的换能器结构,最后制作了样机并对其进行了测试。样机测试结果跟仿真吻合得很好,低频性能得到了极大改善：换能器在谐振频率1.2 kHz附近具有极好的偶极子指向性,谐振频率处的响应比X-MAC同频率段大19 dB。该换能器的研发成功将为偶极子远探测测井仪器性能及成像质量的提高奠定了坚实的基础。     

Sound field of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer

The characteristic of radiated sound field excitated within a non-ferromagnetic aluminum by an electromagnetic acoustic transducer consisting of circle-spiral coil and vertical bias magnetic field is studied.This article presents an improved force source model according to the principle of electromagnetic induction.Then the analytic displacement solution of sound field produced by that force source model is deduced.The tangential and normal directivities of shear and longitudinal sounds are calculated numerically and compared with experimental results.Experimental results conform well to the theoretical prediction,which not only shows that the electromagnetic acoustic transducer of this conformation has a good directivity of vertical shear-wave radiation,but also confirms the given force source model is effective to describe the actual physical behavior of the probe.Theoretical and experimental study lays a foundation for optimization design and engineering application of the electromagnetic acoustic probe.     

A conical piezoelectric transducer with integral sensor as a self-calibrating acoustic emission energy source

The experimental results of a conical piezoelectric transducer with integral backing sensor as a self-calibrating simulated acoustic emission (SAE) energy source are presented. It has been shown that there is a negative linear relationship between the energy of SAE signal detected by the backing sensor and the relative strength (signal energy) of SAE source in the structure detected by a reference sensor under different transducer-to-structure coupling efficiencies, with AC drives of the same wave packet, frequency and peak amplitude to excite the conical transducer as a SAE source at all the investigated frequencies over the frequency range of interest in AE measurements (nominally from 50 kHz to around 1 MHz). This should enable the relative strength of the SAE source in a structure to be determined using the SAE measurement from the backing sensor for the selected electrical inputs to the conical transducer, and hence to remove the concerns about inconsistent transducer-to-structure coupling affecting the relative strength of the SAE source for calibration.     

Transient acoustic holography for reconstructing the particle velocity of the surface of an acoustic transducer

A transient acoustic holography method based on the Rayleigh integral and the time-reversal mirror principle is described. The method reconstructs the particle velocity of the surface of an acoustic source from the waveform of the signal measured over a surface lying in front of the source. The possibility of applying the transient holography to studying pulsed sources used in ultrasonic diagnostics is investigated. A rectangular source that produces a short acoustic pulse and has a nonradiating defect on its surface is considered. A numerical simulation is used to demonstrate the possibility of a holographic reconstruction of the source vibrations. The effects of the spatial sampling step and the size of the measurement region on the reconstruction quality are demonstrated.     

An ultrasonic measurement model using a multi-Gaussian beam model for a rectangular transducer

To date, ultrasonic measurement models have primarily treated systems where circular transducers are used. Recently, however, a highly efficient ultrasonic beam model for a rectangular transducer has also become available where the transducer is represented as a superposition of a relatively few Gaussian beams. Thus, using the multi-Gaussian beams, we developed ultrasonic measurement models for systems where a rectangular transducer is employed. In this paper, we describe the developed models including the beam model, the efficiency factor for a rectangular transducer and far-field scattering models for some standard scatterers. Furthermore, the accuracy of the proposed model is verified by the comparison of the model-based predictions to the experimental measurements.     

Conventional electromagnetic acoustic transducer development for optimum Lamb wave modes

Lamb waves are normally utilized for inspecting thin metal sheets. Wheel type probes using piezoelectric oscillators have generally been used as the sensors for Lamb waves. Recently, the electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) has been developed and is beginning to be used as a Lamb wave detector. We have developed a useful type of transducer for Lamb waves. The new EMAT consists of a meander coil with a narrow distance of 2.5 mm and has a symmetrical structure in the vertical direction for both surface sides. The new EMAT can generate Lamb waves with variable wavelengths corresponding to the frequency range from approximately 300 kHz to 2.5 MHz and multiple modes, and can also generate selected symmetrical and anti-symmetrical mode Lamb waves. It is demonstrated that the optimum Lamb wave mode could be produced by the appropriate positioning of the EMATs and controlling the phase (same or inversed) of the electrical signal driving the device. The described EMAT can be used to examine steel (or other material) sheets of different thickness. It is also shown that the S0 (0.3 MHz) mode Lamb wave is the most effective for the deepest (up to 6 mm) penetration.