Effect of the surface free energy on the behaviour of surface and guided waves

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of the surface free energy upon the propagation of the eigenmodes of structures, by studying successively (a) the Rayleigh wave for an elastic half-space, (b) the Lamb waves for an elastic layer, and (c) the guided modes for a tri-layer structure (e.g., metal/adhesive/metal). The surface free energy is a parameter which appears in the jump conditions of stresses and displacements at each interface, and which consequently modifies the eigenmodes, solutions of the boundary conditions system. As expected, the Rayleigh wave is dispersive and its velocity increases when the surface free energy increases. In the same way, the velocity of Lamb waves also increases except at normal angle of propagation where the surface free energy does not arise. Moreover, near the Rayleigh angle, the behaviour of the A₀ and S₀ Lamb modes varies strongly according to the surface free energy. Similar results are observed for the tri-layer structure.     

轨道板中超声兰姆波传播的有限元计算和实验*

该文针对我国高速铁路轨道板缺陷的非接触动态检测问题,研究了空气耦合超声兰姆波在轨道板中的传播规律。首先,给出了轨道板中超声兰姆波的相速度和群速度频散曲线,结果表明:随着频厚积的增加,频散现象越明显,并且A0相速度收敛于Rayleigh波的波速。然后,建立轨道板中波传播的有限元模型,计算得到兰姆波传播的群速度为2220 m/s,且二维傅里叶变换系数的较大值沿Rayleigh波的频散曲线分布。最后,在沪杭高铁嘉兴南站进行了现场测试,以8.8°倾斜角向轨道板激励产生超声兰姆波,激发产生的兰姆波模态群速度为2325 m/s,且二维傅里叶变换分析其系数的较大值沿Rayleigh波的频散曲线分布。有限元计算结果和实验结果均与理论计算结果一致。该研究为后续轨道板缺陷的非接触动态检测提供了理论依据和实验方法。     

Experimental study of ultrasonic beam sectors for energy conversion into Lamb waves and Rayleigh waves

When a bounded beam is incident on an immersed plate Lamb waves or Rayleigh waves can be generated. Because the amplitude of a bounded beam is not constant along its wave front, a specific beam profile is formed that influences the local efficiency of energy conversion of incident sound into Lamb waves or Rayleigh waves. Understanding this phenomenon is important for ultrasonic immersion experiments of objects because the quality of such experiments highly depends on the amount of energy transmitted into the object. This paper shows by means of experiments based on monochromatic Schlieren photography that the area within the bounded beam responsible for Lamb wave generation differs from that responsible for Rayleigh wave generation. Furthermore it provides experimental verification of an earlier numerical study concerning Rayleigh wave generation.     

Leaky wave detection at air-solid interfaces by laser interferometry

A recently developed optical heterodyne interferometer is proved to be sensitive to detect ultrasonic waves leaking out from metals (and from non-metals as well) several centimeters away from the metal surface in air. This measurement is based on the detection of the optical index variation in air due to the leaky wave. Experiments were carried out using both ultrasonic leaky Rayleigh and leaky Lamb waves in the low-megahertz region. Optical measurements of these leaky wave velocities in semi-infinite materials and plates, which are related to elastic constants of the materials, showed a good correlation to the predicted values. Optical measurements of the amplitude of the leaky waves were used to obtain attenuation coefficients, which correlate to the structural integrity of the materials. Surface and near-surface defects were also detected. This optical method can be used for metals with low-reflectivity surfaces. Thus, it can be used for non-polished surfaces and can be extended for non-contact, non-destructive evaluation applications.     

Fast beating null strip during the reflection of pulsed Gaussian beams incident at the Rayleigh angle

It is well known that harmonic bounded Gaussian beams undergo a transformation into two bounded beams upon reflection on a solid immersed in a liquid. The effect is known as the Schoch effect and can be found at the Rayleigh angle for thick plates and at the different Lamb angles for thin plates. Here, a study is made on the effect of pulsed Gaussian beams reflected on solids. It is found experimentally that the Rayleigh wave phenomenon still generates two reflected bounded beams, whereas Lamb wave phenomena do not generate this effect. This fact may be explained intuitively by realizing that the Rayleigh phenomenon is a coincidental phenomenon that is generated in situ, whereas the Lamb wave phenomenon is a non-coincidental phenomenon that is generated only after incident sound is influenced by both sides of a thin plate. Another explanation is the fact that Rayleigh waves are not dispersive, whereas stimulation and propagation of Lamb waves is frequency dependent. A pulse contains many frequencies and therefore only a fraction of the incident pulse is transformed into a Lamb wave. In this paper, numerical simulations are performed that show that actually the Schoch effect does occur neither for Rayleigh waves, nor for Lamb waves. As a matter of fact, a pulse, incident at the Rayleigh angle, generates two reflected lobes with a null zone of a different kind. The null zone is beating several times during the passage of each pulse. This results in a 'null zone' having a lower mean intensity than any of the two lobes, still less outspoken than for the case of harmonic incident bounded beams. This effect does only occur for Rayleigh wave generation and is much less outspoken for Lamb wave generation.     

The propagation in metal tubing of ultrasonic wave modes equivalent to Lamb waves

The generation of ultrasonic wave modes in thin-walled metal tubing has been investigated experimentally using piezoelectric ultrasonic probes. It is shown that the L(0, 1) mode, which is comparable to the A₀ Lamb wave mode in flat plate, can be generated with acceptable efficiency. The L(0, 2) mode (compare the S₀ Lamb wave mode) is generated rather less efficiently, while its greater group velocity tends to enhance the resolution problems so caused.The initial probe designs were inefficient in that a considerable amount of ultrasonic ‘noise’ was also present which could mask ultrasonic pulses of interest. This would be especially so for short range operation. An improved probe design reduced this background noise to a more acceptable level.The propagation of the L(0, 1) mode around a length of bent (U-form) tubing has also been investigated and it is shown that the ultrasonic pulse is both attenuated and lengthened, while structure has also been introduced. The theoretical implications of this are discussed. Finally a small amount of work is presented on the interaction of both modes with artificial defects.     

Liquid level sensor using ultrasonic Lamb waves

This paper describes a novel, noninvasive method for measurement of liquid level in closed metal tanks that are under high pressure. It is based on the use of ultrasonic Lamb waves propagating along the tank wall. Contact with liquid substantially changes the characteristics of these waves and this can be used as an indicator of liquid presence. Theoretical analysis shows that the symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb wave modes, both fundamental and higher order, are sensitive to presence of the liquid. The optimal wave frequency depends on the thickness of the tank wall and wall material. A prototype level sensor based on this principle has been developed. It uses two pairs of wedge transducers to generate and detect Lamb waves propagating along the circumference of the gas tank. An operating frequency of 100 kHz is found to be optimal for use with tanks having a wall thickness of 30-50 mm. Prototype sensors developed under this program have been used successfully in oil fields in the far northern region of Russia.     

基于空耦超声Lamb波的金属板状结构内部缺陷检测方法

针对接触式超声检测方法在金属板结构内部缺陷实际工程检测中存在的环境要求高、效率低、操作难度高等问题,提出了空耦超声Lamb波检测方法,该方法能更好地适应现场应用环境,提高检测效率,减少传感器数量。通过有限元仿真和实验分析比较了空耦超声检测与接触式超声检测两种方法接收到的信号和成像效果。结果表明:有限元仿真和实验中,空耦超声检测方法对缺陷位置的定位误差分别为2 mm和3.6 mm,接触式检测方法对缺陷位置的定位误差分别为2 mm和11.3 mm,空耦检测具有较高的定位精度;单侧激励条件下,适合采用A0模态Lamb波对板内缺陷进行检测;空耦超声检测可以通过调整信号接收角度接收单一模态Lamb波,避免伪像产生。该方法为后续金属板状结构内部缺陷的空耦超声检测提供参考。     

用于储罐底板缺陷检测的超声兰姆波模式研究

从超声兰姆波的声场方程出发,得到板材表面离面位移(法向位移)为零的条件,即当超声兰姆波的相速度等于板材介质的纵波声速时,在板材表面的离面位移为零。在给定适当频厚积的条件下,分别数值模拟了仅有切向位移而无离面位移的A1、S1、A2和S2兰姆波模式在有液体负载的单层钢板中的传播情形。结果表明:离面位移为零的S2模式频散较小且对板中缺陷更为敏感。     

两侧有固体层负载时板中Lamb波的传播

本文研究了薄板二面有固体导负载时板中Ｌａｍｂ波的传播，从弹性波理论出发并结合应的边界条件，导出板中Ｌａｍｂ波的色散方程，数值计算表示，不管作为自由状态时板中Ｌａｍｂ波相速（板厚取定时）是大于或小于外层固体的声表面波波速，板中对称及反对称模式的Ｌａｍｂ波相速都随着外层固体层厚度增加而变化并且渐近于外层固体的声表面波波速，数值计算又表明，对很薄的板，板中对称及反对称模式的相速均随负载板的厚度呈线性变化     

Assessment of fatigue damage in solid plates through the ultrasonic Lamb wave approach

Changes(degradations) in the mechanical properties of solid plates induced by cyclic fatigue loading will influence the features of ultrasonic Lamb wave propagation,such as dispersion and attenuation.This paper has qualitatively analyzed the feasibility of using the amplitude-frequency characteristics and the stress wave factors(SWFs) of ultrasonic Lamb wave propagation to assess fatigue damage in solid plates.Liquid wedge transducers located on the surface of solid plates tested are used to generate and detect the Lamb wave signals.Based on the Ritec-SNAP ultrasonic measurement system,the experimental setup for assessing the degree of fatigue damage in solid plates using ultrasonic Lamb wave approach has been established.For several rolled aluminum sheets subjected to tension-tension cyclic loading,the experimental examinations have been performed for the relationships between the amplitude-frequency characteristics of ultrasonic Lamb wave propagation and the numbers of loading cycles(denoted by N),as well as the correlations between the Lamb wave SWFs and N.The experimental results show that the Lamb wave SWFs decrease monotonously and sensitively with the increment of cycles of fatigue loading.Based on the correlations between the Lamb wave SWFs and N,it is further verified that ultrasonic Lamb wave propagation combined with the Lamb wave SWFs can be used to effectively assess early fatigue damage in solid plates.     

Selective generation of ultrasonic Lamb waves by electromagnetic acoustic transducers

In this paper, we describe a modal expansion approach for the analysis of the selective generation of ultrasonic Lamb waves by electromagnetic acoustic transducers(EMATs). With the modal expansion approach for waveguide excitation, an analytical expression of the Lamb wave's mode expansion coefficient is deduced, which is related to the driving frequency and the geometrical parameters of the EMAT's meander coil, and lays a theoretical foundation for exactly analyzing the selective generation of Lamb waves with EMATs. The influences of the driving frequency on the mode expansion coefficient of ultrasonic Lamb waves are analyzed when the EMAT's geometrical parameters are given. The numerical simulations and experimental examinations show that the ultrasonic Lamb wave modes can be effectively regulated(strengthened or restrained) by choosing an appropriate driving frequency of EMAT, with the geometrical parameters given. This result provides a theoretical and experimental basis for selectively generating a single and pure Lamb wave mode with EMATs.     

基于ZnO/SiC结构的Lamb波传感器研究

由于超声波传感器的工作需要极高的灵敏度和稳定度,其性能优化一直是研究的重点之一。本文采用传递矩阵法计算了基于ZnO/SiC结构的Lamb波传感器的各项性能,包括机电耦合系数,插入损耗,灵敏度以及较小的最小检测域。根据模拟结果,对Lamb波传感器的以上五个性能参数进行了优化,得到了优化工作条件。 研究发现,Lamb波多模特性为这种传感器的性能优化提供了丰富的选择性,选择不同的模式,可以对各项性能参数进行不同目的的优化。研究结果对研制高性能的Lamb波超声传感器具有理论指导作用。     

Three-Dimensional Scattering of an Incident Plane Shear Horizontal Guided Wave by a Partly through-Thickness Hole in a Plate

We investigate the three-dimensional(3D) scattering problem of an incident plane shear horizontal wave by a partly through-thickness hole in an isotropic plate,in which the Lamb wave modes are also included due to the mode conversions by the scattering obstacle in the 3D problem.An analytical model is presented such that the wave fields are expanded in all of propagating and evanescent SH modes and Lamb modes,and the scattered far-fields of three fundamental guided wave modes are analyzed numerically for different sizes of the holes and frequencies.The numerical results are verified by comparing with those obtained by using the approximate Poisson/Mindlin plate model for small hole radius and low frequency.It is also found that the scattering patterns are different from those of the SO wave incidence.Our work is useful for quantitative evaluation of the plate-like structure by ultrasonic guided waves.     

Elastic constants measurement of anisotropic Olivier wood plates using air-coupled transducers generated Lamb wave and ultrasonic bulk wave

A hybrid elastic wave method is applied to determine the anisotropic constants of Olive wood specimen considered as an orthotropic solid. The method is based on the measurements of the Lamb wave velocities as well as the bulk ultrasonic wave velocities. Electrostatic, air-coupled, ultrasonic transducers are used to generate and receive Lamb waves which are sensitive to material properties. The variation of phase velocity with frequency is measured for several modes propagating parallel and normal to the fiber direction along a thin Olivier wood plates. A numerical model based mainly on an optimization method is developed; it permits to recover seven out of nine elastic constants with an uncertainty of about 15%. The remaining two elastic constants are then obtained from bulk wave measurements. The experimental Lamb phase velocities are in good agreement with the calculated dispersion curves. The evaluation of Olive wood elastic properties has been performed in the low frequency range where the Lamb length wave is large in comparison with the heterogeneity extent. Within the interval errors, the obtained elastic tensor doesn’t reveal a large deviation from a uniaxial symmetry.     

Development of an advanced multimode automatic ultrasonic texture measurement system for laboratory and production line application

We present work on the development of an ultrasonic texture measurement system for sheet metals using non-contact transducers, suitable for use both in the laboratory and on the production line. Variation of the velocity of the zero-order symmetric (S0) Lamb wave is used to determine the crystallographic texture of polycrystalline metal sheets ranging in thickness from 0.1 to 3 mm. This system features improvements on previous state-of-the-art ultrasonic technology in that it probes velocity over a continuous range of angles using only two electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs). This is demonstrated to offer a significant improvement in accuracy and allows the detection and investigation of asymmetric anisotropies in the sheets. Another advantage of the system is its potential for combining several different measurements using a single pair of transducers. The capability is demonstrated for through-thickness shear wave measurements as well as the zero-order symmetric Lamb wave measurements which are the primary means of determining the texture. The change between generating Lamb and through-thickness bulk waves can be made entirely by changing the electrical circuit connected to the EMATs without modifying the transducer assembly in any way. Measurement of all of the above waves can provide information on the sheet thickness and other physical properties of the sheet in addition to texture. Certain texture parameters can be calculated from both Lamb and shear wave velocities, allowing self-calibration of the system.     

Calculation of leaky Lamb waves with a semi-analytical finite element method

A semi-analytical finite element method (SAFE) has been widely used for calculating dispersion curves and mode shapes of guided waves as well as transient waves in a bar like structures. Although guided wave inspection is often conducted for water-loaded plates and pipes, most of the SAFE techniques have not been extended to a plate with leaky media. This study describes leaky Lamb wave calculation with the SAFE. We formulated a new solution using a feature that a single Lamb wave mode generates a harmonic plane wave in leaky media. Dispersion curves obtained with the SAFE agreed well with the previous theoretical studies, which represents that the SAFE calculation was conducted with sufficient accuracy. Moreover, we discussed dispersion curves, attenuation curves, and displacement distributions for total transmission modes and leaky plate modes in a single side and both two side water-loaded plate.     

金属板疲劳损伤非线性兰姆波混频检测

针对金属板结构安全运行需要,开展了金属板结构疲劳损伤非线性兰姆波混频检测方法研究.通过数值仿真,研究了两列A0兰姆波与材料损伤间的非线性相互作用.结果 表明,两列共线A0兰姆波在结构材料损伤处产生单向传播的和频S0波,且和频波幅值随传播距离具有积累增长效应.对不同疲劳程度金属板试件进行了共线混频兰姆波检测实验,结果表明...