Wave propagation in multi-wire strands by wavelet-based laser ultrasound

Methods based on guided ultrasonic waves are gaining increasing attention for the non-destructive inspection and condition monitoring of multi-wire strands used in civil structures such as prestressing tendons and cable stays. In this paper we examine the wave propagation problem in seven-wire strands at the level of the individual wires comprising the strand. Through a broad-band, laser ultrasonic setup and a time—frequency wavelet transform processing, longitudinal and flexural waves are characterized in terms of dispersive velocity and frequency-dependent attenuation. These vibrating frequencies propagating with minimal losses are identified as they are suitable for long-range inspection of the strands. In addition, the wave transmission spectra are found to be sensitive to the load level, suggesting the potential for continuous load monitoring in the field.     

Stress Level Measurement in Prestressed Steel Strands Using Acoustoelastic Effect

In-situ health monitoring of the tensioning components such as strands, tendons, bars, anchorage bolts, etc. used in civil engineering structures, namely bridges, dams, nuclear power plants, etc. is extremely important to ensure security of users and environment. This paper deals with a guided ultrasonic wave procedure for monitoring the stress levels in seven-wire steel strands (15.7 mm in diameter). For this purpose, simplified acoustoelastic formulations were derived from the acoustoelasticity theory and acoustoelastic measurements were performed. The results from acoustoelastic calibration tests and an anchorage block of seven-wire steel strands are presented and discussed. They show the potential and the suitability of the proposed guided wave method for evaluating the service stress levels in the prestressed seven-wire steel strands.     

PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH ORDER LONGITUDINAL MODES IN STEEL STRANDS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Propagation characteristics of high order longitudinal modes of ultrasonic guided waves in seven-wire steel strands are investigated theoretically and experimentally. According to these analysis results, proper longitudinal modes are selected for defect detection in steel strands. Dispersion curves for helical and central wires in a 17.80 mm nominal diameter seven-wire steel strand are numerically obtained firstly, and propagation characteristics of high-order longitudinal modes, such as wave structures, attenuation and dispersion, are analyzed. In experiments, the signals of ultrasonic guided wave at different high frequencies are excited and received at one end of a steel strand by using the same single piezoelectric transducer. The identification of longitudinal modes in the received signals is achieved based on short time Fourier transform. Furthermore, appropriate L（0, 5） mode at 2.54 MHz is chosen for detecting an artificial defect in a helical wire of the steel strand. Results show that high order longitudinal modes in a high frequency range with low dispersion and attenuation whose energy propagates mainly in the center of the wires can be used for defect detection in long range steel strands.     

结构中微裂纹与超声波的混频非线性作用数值仿真研究

针对结构中微裂纹检测难题,本文对结构中微裂纹与超声波的混频非线性作用进行了数值仿真研究。基于经典非线性理论,得到了两列超声纵波相互作用产生混频效应的理论条件。通过有限元仿真,研究了两列纵波与微裂纹相互作用产生混频的条件,并分析了界面处静应力、摩擦系数和裂纹方向对混频效应的影响。研究发现,超声波与微裂纹相互作用产生混频非线性效应的发生条件仍符合经典非线性理论下的混频产生条件。裂纹界面处施加的静应力对差频横波幅值有明显影响;当施加静应力与无裂纹模型得到的最大应力值接近时,混频非线性效应最强;裂纹界面的摩擦系数对超声波的混频非线性效应影响较小;透射差频横波传播方向与经典非线性理论预测的理论差频分量方向基本一致,且几乎不受裂纹方向变化的影响,而反射差频横波的传播方向随裂纹方向的改变而有所不同。本文研究工作为微裂纹检出及方向识别做了有益探索。     

The dynamic behaviour of a piezoelectric actuator bonded to an anisotropic elastic medium

Surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators can be used to generate elastic waves for monitoring damages of composite materials. This paper provides an analytical and numerical study to simulate wave propagation in an anisotropic medium induced by surface-bonded piezocermic actuators under high-frequency electric loads. Based on a one-dimensional actuator model, the dynamic load transfer between a piezoceramic actuator and an anisotropic elastic medium under in-plane mechanical and electrical loading is obtained. The wave propagation induced by the surface-bonded actuator is also studied in detail by using Fourier transform technique and solving the resulting integral equations in terms of the interfacial shear stress. Typical examples are provided to show effects of the geometry, the material combination, the loading frequency and the material anisotropy of the composite upon the load transfer and the resulting wave propagation.     

A device for measuring the velocity of ultrasonic waves: An application to stress analysis

In this paper we present a device for the practical application of an ultrasonic critical-angle refractometry (UCRfr) technique. UCRfr is a technique for measuring the velocity of longitudinal, shear and Rayleight waves, developed to improve the traditional ultrasonic methods for measuring the stress level in materials by means of acousto-elasticity. The technique consists of relating the variations in wave propagation velocity to variations in the angle of refraction at the interface with a second medium. Variations in the angle of refraction are determined on the basis of delay in receiving of the same wave at two different points. The study deals with the measurements of velocity changes of longitudinal wave due to uniaxial stress. In the present work the effects of stress on aluminum and steel specimens have been studied. Experimentation has show the potential of the technique for stress measurement; on the other hand, when the applied stress is known, it allows the measurement of the acoustoelastic constants of longitudinal waves. As regards measuring variations in velocity induced by stress, using this method it is possible, with a suitable choice of the material the device is made of, to isolate the effects of stress on velocity from the possible effects of temperature.     

Thermal Fatigue Damage Assessment in an Isotropic Pipe Using Nonlinear Ultrasonic Guided Waves

The use of nonlinear ultrasonic waves has been accepted as a potential technique to characterize the state of material micro-structure in solids. The typical nonlinear phenomenon is generation of second harmonics. Second harmonic generation of ultrasonic waves propagation has been vigorously studied for tracking material micro-damages in unbounded media and plate-like waveguides. However, there are few studies of launching second harmonic guided wave propagation in tube-like structures. Considering that second harmonics could provide useful information sensitive for material degradation condition, this research aims at developing a procedure for detecting second harmonics of ultrasonic guided wave in an isotropic pipe. The second harmonics generation of guided wave propagation in an isotropic and stress-free elastic pipe is investigated. Flexible polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) comb transducers are used to measure fundamental wave and second harmonic one. Experimental results show that nonlinear parameters increase monotonically with propagation distance. This work experimentally verifies that the second harmonics of guided waves in pipe have the cumulative effect with propagation distance. The proposed procedure is applied to assessing thermal fatigue damage indicated by nonlinearity in an aluminum pipe. The experimental observation verifies that nonlinear guided waves can be used to assess damage levels in early thermal fatigue state by correlating them with the acoustic nonlinearity.     

Stress evaluation by pulse-echo ultrasonic longitudinal wave

In this paper, an activity aimed at developing an ultrasonic technique for evaluation of states of stress, and in the presence of gradients deriving from local effects of concentrated stress, is presented. The approach is based on the acoustoelastic effect in which ultrasonic wave propagation speed is linked to the magnitude of the stresses present. The technique developed calls for the use of longitudinal waves in pulse-echo technique that propagate in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the work piece. The technique has been applied in different experimental configurations on test specimens with concentration of stresses deriving from notches and fatigue cracks and has furnished encouraging results that highlight the potentiality of the method.     

初应力对压电层状结构声表面波传播性能的影响

研究了压电层状结构中初应力对广义Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ波传播相速度和机电耦合性能的影响,通过求解含初应力的运动微分方程,对自由界面电学开路和短路两种情况得到了相应的相速度方程。给出了具体的数值算例,所得结果对于提高和改善声表面波器件性能有参考意义。     

Gelation of waxy crude oils by ultrasonic and dynamic mechanical analysis

A novel technique, based on low intensity ultrasonic wave propagation, has been applied to investigate the gelation of a waxy crude oil, caused by the crystallization of paraffin fractions as the temperature reduces below a threshold value, called WAT (wax appearance temperature). Because this phenomenon significantly affects the rheological behavior of crude oils, the knowledge of the conditions under which it occurs, during oil storage and/or transportation, is a topical issue in the oil industry. In this work, an ultrasonic equipment has been set up, able to propagate longitudinal waves in the MHz range and to display in real time the behavior of ultrasonic velocity and attenuation when the crude oil sample is subjected to heating and cooling cycles. When the ultrasonic probes alternatively rotate as parallel plates of a conventional rheometer, low intensity longitudinal waves (in the megahertz range), and shear oscillations (in the hertz range) are simultaneously applied on the sample, thus widely broadening the frequency range of investigation. On cooling, the crystallization of paraffin fractions and the consequent formation of a network structure in the oil matrix are responsible of the development and growth of the crude oil elastic response, which becomes dominant over the viscous response. This process can be reliably detected by dynamic mechanical analysis and by ultrasonic analysis through the increase of the storage modulus G′ and longitudinal velocity, respectively. The growth and further association between wax crystals causes a dissipation of acoustic energy, which is indicated by the increase of the wave attenuation. The combination of rheological and ultrasonic methods has provided a better insight both on the gel transition of crude oils and the viscoelastic behavior of gelled samples. The ultrasonic wave propagation has demonstrated to be a powerful tool for monitoring the sol–gel transition in waxy crude oils. Finally, the effect of ultrasonic waves with different intensity on the gel build-up has been also evaluated. A reduction of the gel strength with increasing wave intensity has been observed and the recovery of elastic response after removing ultrasonic irradiation has been monitored. This paper was presented at Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC) held in Hersonisos, Crete, Greece, April 27–29, 2006.     

钢轨轨底垂直振动模式导波检测技术的实验研究

现有铁路钢轨超声探伤车技术无法检测线路钢轨轨底缺陷,给铁路运输安全带来很大隐患.本文开展了钢轨轨底超声导波传播特性和垂直振动模式导波检测技术研究,采用半解析有限元方法分析了我国60型钢轨轨底的各振动模态导波频散曲线和波结构.应用模态锤技术对自由状态钢轨轨底垂直振动模态导波传播特性进行了实验测量,结果表明,在0～100kHz频率范围内,钢轨轨底垂直振动模态优势模式与厚度为14 mm板中的A0模式兰姆波具有等效性.进一步研究了激励频率、激励脉冲周数、传播距离对轨底垂直振动模态导波传播的影响,设计了导波斜探头,选择合适的参数在钢轨轨底激励出垂直振动模态导波并检测出了轨底的人工缺陷.本文的研究结果为线路钢轨轨底的导波检测技术奠定了一定的基础.     

Propagation and scattering of ultrasonic waves in polycrystals with arbitrary crystallite and macroscopic texture symmetries

A general ultrasonic attenuation model for a polycrystal with arbitrary macroscopic texture and triclinic ellipsoidal grains is described with proper accounting for the anisotropic Green’s function for the reference medium. The texture and the ellipsoidal grain frames in the model are independent and the wave propagation direction is arbitrary. The attenuation coefficients are obtained in the Born approximation accompanied by the Rayleigh and stochastic asymptotes. The scattering model displays statistical anisotropy due to two independent factors: (1) shape of the oriented grains and (2) preferred crystallographic orientation of the grains leading to macroscopic anisotropy of the homogenized reference medium. The model is applicable to most single phase polycrystalline materials that may occur as a result of thermomechanical manufacturing processes leading to different macrotextures and elongated-shaped grains. It predicts the strength of ultrasonic scattering and its dependence on frequency and propagation direction as a function of grain shape, grain crystallographic symmetry and macroscopic texture parameters and provides the texture-induced dependence of macroscopic ultrasonic velocity on propagation angle. It considers proper wave polarizations due to macroscopic anisotropy and scattering-induced transformations of waves with different polarizations. Competing effects of grain shape and texture on the attenuation are observed. In contrast to the macroscopically isotropic case, where in the stochastic regime the attenuation is highest in the direction of the longest ellipsoidal axis of the grain, the wave attenuation in the elongation direction may be suppressed or amplified by the texture with different effects on the quasilongitudinal and quasitransverse waves. The frequency behavior is also interestingly affected by texture: a hump in the total attenuation coefficient is found for the fast quasitransverse wave which is purely the result of macroscopic anisotropy and the existence of two quasitransverse waves; this hump is not observed in the macroscopically isotropic case. Striking differences of the texture effect on the directional dependences of the attenuation coefficients are found at low versus high frequencies.     

冲击载荷下颗粒材料临边界区域的波动行为及变形特征分析

研究颗粒材料中的波传播问题在超材料制造方面有重要意义, 如波传导超材料边界的设计需考虑应力波的反射和吸收等问题. 本文从一维颗粒链中的波传播行为出发, 根据距边界不同位置处颗粒能够得到的最大动能的不同, 给出了临边界区域的定义. 然后分析了多组二维颗粒样本在冲击载荷作用下应力波的传播行为, 主要考虑了不同边界形状及不同颗粒排列方式对应力波在临边界区域内传播行为的影响. 研究表明, 临边界区颗粒排列方式主要影响边界附近颗粒的相对位置和局部孔隙率; 经边界反射后的应力波直接以边界形状在临边界区内传播, 该结论在边界情况越复杂(高局部孔隙率, 颗粒无序随机排列)时越准确; 在临边界区域外(即材料中心区域), 波前形状主要由波速决定. 弧形边界对波反射的汇聚作用和临边界区域内颗粒的排列方式所引起的弥散作用是两个竞争因素, 共同决定临边界区域内波的反射过程. 最后分析了临边界区域内颗粒力链网络在反射前后的变化. 该研究将为超材料设计提供借鉴.      

Acoustical birefringence and the use of ultrasonic waves for experimental stress analysis

Stress-induced optical birefringence in transparent materials has long been a common technique of stress analysis. Although stress-induced acoustic birefringence was discovered more than 20 years ago, its development and actual applications are still limited. This paper will look at the similarities and differences between the propagation of light waves in photoelastic materials and the propagation of ultrasonic waves in deformed solids. Critical comparisons of the experimental methods employed in photoelasticity with those available in modern ultrasonic measuring technique show why previous studies on ultrasonic measurement of stresses were not very successful. A new experimental technique is devised for using ultrasonic waves for stress analysis. The technique employs a single rotatable 10-MHz shear transducer as the transmitter and receiver of ultrasonic pulses. The enlarged display of the 10-MHz modulated-pulse pattern of reflected echoes provides a convenient way to determine the directions of principal axis of the stress within ±3 deg. The pulse-echo-overlap method is used to measure the absolute velocities of the two principal shear waves. The difference in principal stresses is then calculated from the velocity measurements. Test results of common structural-aluminum and steel specimens under uniaxial compression show a linear relation between the velocity changes and the applied stress. Ultrasonic measurements of stress distribution in a 6.35-cm diameter, 1.9-cm-thick aluminum disk under diametric compression are also reported. Paper was presented at Third SESA International Congress on Experimental Mechanics held in Los Angeles, CA on May 13–18, 1973.     

The propagation of elastic stress waves in a conical shell under axial impulsive loading

The propagation of elastic stress waves in a conical shell subjected to axial impulsive loading is studied in this paper by means of the finite element calculation and model experiments. It is shown that there are two axisymmetrical elastic stress waves propagating with different velocities, i.e., the longitudinal wave and the bending wave. The attenuation of these waves while propagating along the shell surface is discussed. It is found in experiments that the bending wave is also generated when a longitudinal wave reflects from the fixed end of the shell, and both reflected waves will separate during the propagation due to their different velocities. Southwest Institute of Structural Mechanics     

SH-type waves dispersion in an isotropic medium sandwiched between an initially stressed orthotropic and heterogeneous semi-infinite media

The present paper studies the propagation of shear waves (SH-type waves) in an homogeneous isotropic medium sandwiched between two semi infinite media. The upper half-space is considered as orthotropic medium under initial stress and lower half-space considered as heterogeneous medium. We have obtained the dispersion equation of phase velocity for SH-type waves. The propagation of SH-type waves are influenced by inhomogeneity parameters and initial stress parameter. The velocity of SH-type wave has been computed for different cases. We have also obtained the dispersion equation of phase velocity in homogeneous media in the absence of initial stress. The velocities of SH-type waves are calculated numerically as a function of kH (non-dimensional wave number) and presented in a number of graphs. To study the effect of inhomogeneity parameters and initial stress parameter we have plotted the velocity of SH-type wave in several figure. We have observed that the velocity of wave increases with the increase inhomogeneity parameters. We found that in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous media the velocity of SH-type wave increases with the increase of initial stress parameter. The results may be useful for the study of seismic waves propagation during any earthquake and artificial explosions.     

High-amplitude elastic solitary wave propagation in 1-D granular chains with preconditioned beads: Experiments and theoretical analysis

Elastic solitary waves resulting from Hertzian contact in one-dimensional (1-D) granular chains have demonstrated promising properties for wave tailoring such as amplitude-dependent wave speed and acoustic band gap zones. However, as load increases, plasticity or other material nonlinearities significantly affect the contact behavior between particles and hence alter the elastic solitary wave formation. This restricts the possible exploitation of solitary wave properties to relatively low load levels (up to a few hundred Newtons). In this work, a method, which we term preconditioning, based on contact pre-yielding is implemented to increase the contact force elastic limit of metallic beads in contact and consequently enhance the ability of 1-D granular chains to sustain high-amplitude elastic solitary waves. Theoretical analyses of single particle deformation and of wave propagation in a 1-D chain under different preconditioning levels are presented, while a complementary experimental setup was developed to demonstrate such behavior in practice. The experimental results show that 1-D granular chains with preconditioned beads can sustain high amplitude (up to several kN peak force) solitary waves. The solitary wave speed is affected by both the wave amplitude and the preconditioning level, while the wave spatial wavelength is still close to 5 times the preconditioned bead size. Comparison between the theoretical and experimental results shows that the current theory can capture the effect of preconditioning level on the solitary wave speed.     

水平层状岩体边坡动力响应中的结构面效应研究

根据应力波传播原理分析了水平层状岩体边坡中应力波传播特征,建立了应力波在该类边坡中传播的模型。利用离散元软件UDEC分析了不同频率垂向压缩应力波作用下边坡动力响应规律中的结构面效应。结果表明:边坡中的水平层面对坡顶的动力响应有明显影响。低频应力波作用下,水平层状岩体边坡坡顶的垂向峰值速度较均质坡体相同部位的峰值速度的增加值随坡高增加而增大。较高频率应力波作用时,边坡顶部靠近坡面的垂向峰值速度高于无结构面边坡相同部位的峰值速度,远离坡面时情况相反; 坡顶垂向峰值速度大小呈周期性变化,输入应力波频率越大该变化频次越高。研究结果将有助于进一步揭示各种不同岩体结构类型边坡在动力荷载作用下损伤机理及破坏模式。     

Leaky and non-leaky behaviours of guided waves in CF/EP sandwich structures

The aim of this study is to investigate the leaky and non-leaky behaviours of guided waves, between the composite skin and the core in CF/EP sandwich structures, focusing on the fundamental symmetric like and anti-symmetric like guided wave modes and Rayleigh waves. In investigating the core effect on the guided wave propagation different types of cores are used, namely Nomex honeycomb (HRH 10 1/8-3) 10 and 20 mm in thickness and foam (Divinycell^®  PVC). The behaviour of the guided wave modes is characterised and the conversion mechanism to the Rayleigh wave is investigated. Further, leaky and non-leaky behaviours of guided waves upon interacting with debonded areas are explored, where the ability of guided waves to identify debonding of different sizes was assessed. Finite element analysis simulations are presented to support the experimental analysis, where propagation of ultrasonic waves and their interaction with debonded areas are quantitatively examined.     

基于时间反转法的Lamb波检测技术的研究进展

Lamb波具有传播距离远、衰减小等特点,已被广泛应用于大型板类结构的损伤检测。时间反转是实现超声波聚焦的有效方法之一。本文回顾并总结了近20年来时间反转方法在Lamb波检测领域中的研究进展。针对Lamb波固有的频散和多模态等传播特性,详细论述了时间反转法在板结构Lamb波检测中的应用。最后对基于时间反转法的免基准信号Lamb波损伤检测方法进行了总结,分析其存在的问题并对其应用前景进行了展望。