Influence of transparent coating thickness on thermoelastic force source and laser-generated ultrasound waves

A numerical model is established to investigate the influence of transparent coating thickness on the laser-generated thermoelastic force source and ultrasound waves in the coating-substrate system by using the finite element method (FEM). Taking into account the effects of thermal diffusion, the finite width and duration of the laser source, as well as the temperature dependence of material properties, the transient temperature distributions are obtained firstly. Applying this temperature field to structure analyses as thermal loading, the thermoelastic stress field and laser-generated ultrasound wave in the specimen are obtained. The generation and propagation of the laser thermoelastically induced stress field and ultrasonic waves in coating-substrate system are presented in detail. The influence of transparent coating thickness on the transient temperature distribution, thermoelastic force source and the laser-generated ultrasound waveforms is investigated. The numerical results indicate that the thermoelastic force source and laser-generated ultrasound waveform are strongly affected by the coating thickness due to the constraint of coating. This method can provide insight into the generation and propagation of the laser-generated stress field in coating-substrate system consisting of a transparent coating and an opaque metallic substrate. It provides theoretical basics to optimize ultrasonic signal generation in particular applications and invert the physical and geometrical parameter of the coating-substrate system more accurately in the experiment.     

Analysis of laser-generated ultrasonic force source at specimen surface and display of bulk wave in transversely isotropic plate by numerical method

Taking into account the effects of thermal diffusion and optical penetration, as well as the finite width and duration of the laser source, the laser-generated ultrasonic force source at surface vicinity is presented. The full acoustic fields of laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave are obtained and displayed in transversely isotropic plate. The features of laser-generated ultrasound bulk waves are analyzed. The features of laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave are in good agreement with the theoretical results (the phase velocity surfaces), demonstrating the validity of this simulation. The numerical results indicate that the features of laser-generated ultrasound waveforms in anisotropic specimen, different from the case in isotropic materials, have a close relation with the propagating plane and propagation direction. This method can provide insight to the generation and propagation of laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave in transversely isotropic material.     

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.     

Numerical simulation of laser-generated ultrasound in non-metallic material by the finite element method

The use of a pulsed laser for the generation of the elastic waves in non-metallic materials in the thermoelastic regime is investigated by using finite element method (FEM), taking into account not only thermal diffusion and the finite spatial and temporal shape of the laser pulse, but also optical penetration and the temperature dependence of material properties. The optimum finite element model is established based on analysis of two important parameters, meshing size and time step, and the stability of solution. Temperature distributions and temperature gradient fields in non-metallic material for different time steps are obtained, this temperature field is equivalent to a bulk force source to generate ultrasonic wave. The laser-generated ultrasound waveforms at the epicenter and surface acoustic waveforms (SAWs) are obtained and the influence of optical penetration into the material on the temperature field and the ultrasound waveforms are analyzed. The numerical results indicate that the heat penetration into non-metallic material is caused mainly by the optical penetration, and the ultrasound waveforms, especially the shape of the precursor, are strongly dependent on the optical penetration depth into non-metallic material.     

Acoustic wave generation by microwaves and applications to nondestructive evaluation

Although acoustic wave generation by electromagnetic waves has been widely studied in the case of laser-generated ultrasounds, the literature on acoustic wave generation by thermal effects due to electromagnetic microwaves is very sparse. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the phenomenon of microwave generation, i.e. radiation pressure, electrostriction or thermal expansion. Now it is known that the main cause is the thermal expansion due to the microwave absorption. This paper will review the recent advances in the theory and experiments that introduce a new way to generate ultrasonic waves without contact for the purpose of nondestructive evaluation and control. The unidirectional theory based on Maxwell's equations, heat equation and thermoviscoelasticity predicts the generation of acoustic waves at interfaces and inside stratified materials. Acoustic waves are generated by a pulsed electromagnetic wave or a burst at a chosen frequency such that materials can be excited with a broad or narrow frequency range. Experiments show the generation of acoustic waves in water, viscoelastic polymers and composite materials shaped as rod and plates. From the computed and measured accelerations at interfaces, the viscoelastic and electromagnetic properties of materials such as polymers and composites can be evaluated (NDE). Preliminary examples of non-destructive testing applications are presented.     

Laser-generated thermoelastic acoustic sources and Lamb waves in anisotropic plates

The effect of anisotropy and temperature on the dispersive Lamb wave generation and propagation in a transversely isotropic thin plate has been investigated. A quantitative numerical model for the laser-generated transient ultrasonic Lamb waves propagating along arbitrary directions is presented by using a finite-element method. All factors, such as spatial and time distributions of the incident laser beam, optical penetration, thermal diffusivity, thickness of the plate, and source–receiver distance, can be taken into account. The effects on the ultrasound waveform of the size of the optoacoustic source are investigated; in the limit of strong optical absorption, a subsurface thermal source gives rise to both vertical and lateral shear tensions. The lateral shear tension is equivalent to applying a shear dipole at the top face; the amplitude of the dipole is a function of material symmetry, contrary to the isotropic case, and the character and strength of the equivalent surface stress are a function of propagation direction. The specific results for the lower anti-symmetric and symmetric mode propagation in all planar directions are presented in the thermoelastic regime; the spatial dispersion (variation of the velocity with the direction of propagation) as well as the frequency dispersion is analyzed. PACS 43.35.+d; 02.70.Dh; 42.62.-b; 78.20.Nv; 81.70.Cv     

Identification of laser-generated ultrasounds in the response of the cylinder over time and space

A theoretical solution is presented to identify laser-generated ultrasounds in the transient response over time and space of a cylinder impacted by a laser line pulse. Theoretical radial displacements at various observation angles are obtained for an aluminum cylinder under thermoelastic regime. The corresponding displacements are observed experimentally by the laser ultrasonic technique. Good agreement is found in the time arrival, shape and relative amplitude of surface waves and various longitudinal and transverse bulk waves. These laser-generated ultrasounds are further identified by the ray trajectory analysis. This work will be helpful for the inverse problem of the nondestructive evaluation of cylinder parts.     

横观各向同性材料中激光超声谱有限元数值模拟

研究了横观各向同性材料中激光超声波的传播特征．基于谱有限元方法,建立了横观各向同性材料中激光超声的数值模型．利用谱有限元方法模拟脉冲激光作用于材料上产生超声波及其传播的过程．讨论了横观各向同性薄板的各向异性及各向同性平面内超声波的传播特征,并分析了材料厚度的变化对产生超声波模态的影响．     

激光激发黏弹表面波有限元数值模拟

研究黏弹性材料中激光激发的Rayleigh波的传播特征. 考虑到黏弹性材料的黏性特征,在频域内建立黏弹性材料中激光激发Rayleigh波的有限元数值模型. 在验证有限元频域数值模型正确性的基础上,模拟脉冲激光作用在黏弹性材料上激发出Rayleigh波,进而讨论激光激发的黏弹Rayleigh波的传播特征,并比较黏弹性材料与弹性材料中激光激发的Rayleigh波差异,同时分析了材料的黏性劲度参量变化对Rayleigh波特征的影响. 关键词： 表面波 激光超声 有限元方法 黏弹性     

横观各向同性材料中激光超声谱有限元数值模拟

研究了横观各向同性材料中激光超声波的传播特征.基于谱有限元方法,建立了横观各向同性材料中激光超声的数值模型.利用谱有限元方法模拟脉冲激光作用于材料上产生超声波及其传播的过程.讨论了横观各向同性薄板的各向异性及各向同性平面内超声波的传播特征,并分析了材料厚度的变化对产生超声波模态的影响.     

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.     

The applicability of a material-treatment laser pulse in non-destructive evaluations

A practical optodynamic study was performed to determine the usability of different lengths of laser pulses for the generation of ultrasonic transients in a solid material. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of a dual use for a laser pulse-for laser material processing, on the one hand, and for the ultrasonic wave generation on the other-with both processes being combined on the same production line. The propagation of the laser-generated ultrasonic waves is evaluated by detecting and measuring with a PID-controlled stabilized interferometer. Thus, both systems provided the basic tools, the generation and detection of ultrasonic waves, for an ultrasonic, laser-based, non-destructive material evaluation. The ultrasonic transients generated by 'classical' nanosecond laser pulses were compared with the transients generated by industrial laser pulses with a duration of a few tenths of a microsecond. The experimental results are compared with the results of a time-of-flight analysis that also involved part of a mode-conversion analysis for both regimes in a layered material structure. The differences between the two waveforms were assessed in terms of their visibility, wavelength and resolution. The limit values were calculated and estimated for the laser-pulse parameters, when such pulses are intended for use in an ultrasonic, laser-based, non-destructive evaluation. The possibility of using an industrial marking laser for laser ultrasound generation is thus demonstrated.     

Application of passive quadrature phase demodulation for the detection of laser ultrasound

In this paper we describe a laser ultrasound detection scheme based on a new passive phase demodulation technique. Typical laser interferometers suffer from the loss of sensitivity because of phase drifts resulting from the mechanical movements of optical components and normally require closed loop stabilisation control. Through the use of a custom-designed grating mask, the present design completely eliminates the need for any feedback control by simultaneously sampling the interferometer output in the four quadrants of the optical phase circle. The signals are then processed to reproduce the actual waveform of the ultrasound pulse. The operation of the proposed technique is demonstrated through the detection of laser-generated ultrasound waves propagating inside an aluminium block.     

Thermal and mechanical finite element modeling of laser-generated ultrasound in coating–substrate system

Thermal and mechanical finite element modeling of laser-generated ultrasound in coating–substrate system is presented, which entails a numerical formulation for the transient responses in terms of the characteristics of the source that originated the waves in the thermoelastic regime. The formulation takes into account the temperature dependence of the material parameters and thermal diffusion from the source. Numerical results show that the temperature gradient field is equivalent to the body force source, namely, vertical forces propagate downward and horizontal forces outward in the specimen. Waveforms at the epicenter present fast oscillations immediately after the precursor, which are produced by multiple reflections of the longitudinal in the coating, the thickness of the coating has remarkable influence on the waveforms at the epicenter.     

Modeling laser-generated guided waves in bonded plates by the finite element method

The purpose of this research is to develop an effective model of the transient laser-generated guided waves in bonded plates by the finite element (FE) method. The FE parameters, such as the mesh density and the time step size, which are related to wave propagation, are optimized in order to set up a standard, and the correlation between these parameters is discussed. The waveforms in bonded plates with different bonded interface modeled by the spring model are obtained and then compared. The results show that the transient responses are sensitive to the stiffness coefficients characterizing the cohesive quality. Finally, these FE results are compared with analytical and experimental results. All these comparisons confirm the accuracy of the FE method for modeling laser-generated guided waves in bonded plates.     

High power optical fibre delivery system for the laser generation of ultrasound

A plastic-clad optical fibre system has been examined as a delivery system of pulsed laser energy for the generation of ultrasound. The onset of significant optical damage caused by the laser has been investigated. By using multimode fibres of 1 m length with 600 μm core size, it was found that laser power densities from the fibre were sufficient to produce ultrasonic waveforms corresponding to both the thermoelastic and plasma generation regimes. Out-of-plane acoustic displacements of >250 pm can be achieved through 2.5 cm thick aluminium test samples, showing that fibre optical delivery systems may be considered in systems using laser-generated ultrasound for non-destructive testing applications.     

Thermoelastic equivalent circuit for laser ultrasound

I.IntroductionItiswe11knownthatultrasonicwavecanbegenerated'bytherma1expansionwhenalaserbeamisincidentonsamples.Accordingto1incarthcory,laserultrasonicsignalcanbcderivedfromtheso1utionofthermoe1asticdifferentialcquationinwho1espacc.Asanimportantparameter,theamp1itudeofsoundwavehasbeenappliedtoquantitutivemeas.rements['-3l.Recentpapersbegintofocusonanotherconsiderablecharactcr-thctempora1profileofultrasonicsignalwhoscfrequencyandphasespectruminvolvemoreinfOrmationofmaterialproperhesl~8l.And,c…     

Polymer composite material characterisation using a laser/air-transducer system

A wide bandwidth 1–3 connectivity piezocomposite air transducer has been used to detect laser-generated ultrasound in a variety of composite materials. Through thickness waveforms in various carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite plates will be presented, as well as a selection of Lamb waves. Signals were also obtained in samples of pultruded glass fibre reinforced composite of different thickness. Using the laser/air-transducer system, images were obtained of machined defects and delaminations by conventional C-scanning methods, and tomographic reconstruction techniques.     

Laser-ultrasonic generation of Lamb waves in the reaction force range

The Laser-ultrasonic generation of Lamb waves in an elastic plate is investigated theoretically and experimentally for a laser source whose intensity is high enough to create reaction forces (normal tractions) on the illuminated surface of the specimen. The analytical solutions for transient waves are derived using the integral transform method first by considering an arbitrary source shape and time excitation function, and then specifically for circular and line source shapes. The simulation study allows us not only to predict the behavior of individual wave modes but also to construct the overall responses; thus it helps us better understand the wave excitation mechanisms. The dispersive and multi-modal nature of laser-generated Lamb waves is presented by showing the spatiotemporal Fourier transform of displacements obtained by the simulation study. The transform, displayed in the frequency-wave number domain, enunciates the characteristics of the propagating individual Lamb wave modes. The simulation results are then compared with the 2-D Fourier transform of a set of experimental data obtained by scanning an aluminum plate specimen.     

Normal mode expansion method for laser-generated ultrasonic Lamb waves in orthotropic thin plates

A quantitative theory for modeling the laser-generated transient ultrasonic Lamb waves, which propagates along arbitrary directions in orthotropic plates, is presented by employing an expansion method of generalized Lamb wave modes. The displacement field is expressed by a summation of the symmetric and antisymmetric modes in the surface stress-free orthotropic plate, and therefore the theory is particularly appropriate for waveform analyses of Lamb waves in thin plates because one needs only to evaluate several lower modes. The transient waveforms excited by the thermoelastic expansion and the oil-coating evaporation are analyzed for a transversely isotropic thin plate. The results show that the theory provides a quantitative analysis to characterize anisotropic elastic stiffness properties of orthotropic plates by laser-generated Lamb wave detection.