TY - CONF A1 - Gaal, Mate A1 - Dohse, Elmar A1 - Bartusch, Jürgen A1 - Köppe, Enrico A1 - Kreutzbruck, Marc A1 - Hillger, W. A1 - Amos, J. M. T1 - Ultrasonic testing of adhesively bonded joints using air-coupled cellular polypropylene transducers N2 - In air-coupled ultrasonic testing, the impedance mismatch between the transducer and the air is commonly being solved by adding matching layers to composite transducers. To avoid the difficult technological procedure regarding matching layers, some new piezoelectric materials have been proposed. Most promising are ferroelectrets, which are charged cellular polymers, having ferroelectric and consequently piezoelectric properties. In particular, the extreme softness of cellular polypropylene (cPP) leads to a high piezoelectric constant and to a good impedance match with the air, making matching layers redundant. Its elasticity modulus below 1 MPa causes an additional effect not observed with common piezoelectric materials: that is the electrostrictive effect, here defined as the thickness change due to the attractive force between the transducer electrodes. This effect exceeds the piezoelectric effect at excitation voltages over 1 kV. The extreme softness of cPP leads also to high flexibility, enabling easy focusing by bending the transducer. We have developed air-coupled ultrasonic transducers based on cPP. This includes the electrical matching networks for the transmitter and for the receiver. The transmitter is excited with voltages up to 2.5 kV, so that the electrostrictive effect dominates, leading to sound pressure around 145dB at the transducer surface. These transducers have been applied for testing carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer plates, adhesive joints and other composite structures. Here we report about ultrasonic transmission of two types of adhesive joints. The first one is multi-layer aluminium components with some artificial disbonds, which are common in aerospace industry, and the second one is an aluminium-steel joint with polyurethane adhesive, which is used in automotive industry. T2 - ECNDT 2014 - 11th European conference on non-destructive testing CY - Prague, Czech Republic DA - 06.10.2014 KW - Air-coupled KW - Ultrasonic testing KW - Ferroelectret KW - Cellular polypropylene KW - Transducer KW - Adhesive joint PY - 2014 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-317204 SN - 978-80-214-5018-9 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Brno University of Technology AN - OPUS4-31720 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schadow, Florian A1 - Brackrock, Daniel A1 - Gaal, Mate A1 - Heckel, Thomas T1 - Ultrasonic inspection and data analysis of glass- and carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics N2 - Non-destructive testing (NDT) helps to find material defects without having an influence on the material itself. It is applied as a method of quality control, for online structural health monitoring, and for inspection of safety related components. Due to the ability of automation and a simple test setup ultrasonic testing is one major NDT technique next to several existing options. Whereas contact technique allows the use of higher frequencies of some MHz and phased array focusing, air-coupled ultrasonic testing (ACUT) shows different advantages. Most significant for ACUT is the absence of any coupling fluid and an economical test procedure respective time and costs. Both contact technique and ACUT have been improved and enhanced during the past years. One important enhancement is the development of airborne transducers based on ferroelectrets, like charged cellular polypropylene (cpp), which makes the application of any matching layers being mandatory in conventional piezoelectric transducers unnecessary. In this contribution we show ultrasonic inspection results of specimens made of carbon- and glass-fibre-reinforced plastic. These specimens include defects represented by drill holes and artificial delaminations of various size and depth. We compare inspection results achieved by using contact technique to those achieved by ACUT. For ACUT, conventional piezoelectric transducers and transducers based on cpp were used, both focused as well as non-focused types. Contact inspections were performed with a multi-channel matrix array probe. Once the inspection data is recorded it can be analysed in order to detect and evaluate defects in the specimen. We present different analysing strategies and compare these regarding detection rate and sizing of defects. T2 - 3rd International Symposium on Fatigue Design and Material Defects, FDMD 2017 CY - Lecco, Italy DA - 19.09.2017 KW - Ultrasonic testing KW - Air-coupled KW - Carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic KW - Glass-fibre-reinforced KW - Material inspection KW - Defect sizing PY - 2017 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-434802 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prostr.2017.11.092 SN - 2452-3216 VL - 7 SP - 299 EP - 306 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-43480 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Karapanagiotis, Christos A1 - Heimann, Jan A1 - Duffner, Eric A1 - Charmi, Amir A1 - Schukar, Marcus A1 - Hashemi, Seyedreza A1 - Prager, Jens T1 - Towards predictive maintenance of hydrogen pressure vessels based on multi-sensor data fusion and digital twin modeling N2 - Hydrogen pressure vessels are among the most essential components for reliable hydrogen technology. Under current regulations, a mostly conservative strategy is employed, restricting the usage time of hydrogen pressure vessels without providing information on the real remaining lifetime. During the service life, pressure vessels are inspected periodically. However, no established method that can provide continuous monitoring or information on the remaining safe service life of the vessel. In this paper, we propose a sensor network for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of hydrogen pressure vessels where data from all sensors are collected and centrally evaluated. Specifically, we integrate three different SHM sensing technologies namely Guided Wave ultrasonics (GW), Acoustic Emission testing (AT), and distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (FOS). This integrated approach offers significantly more information and could therefore enable a transition from costly and time-consuming periodic inspections to more efficient and modern predictive maintenance strategies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based evaluation. This does not only have a positive effect on the operational costs but enhances safety through early identification of critical conditions in the overall system in real-time. We demonstrate an experimental set-up of a lifetime test where a Type IV Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) is investigated under cyclic loading instrumented with AT, FOS, and GW methods. We acquired data from the sensor network until the pressure vessel failed due to material degradation. The data collected using the three different SHM sensor technologies is planned to be evaluated individually, using data fusion, and AI. In the future, we aim to integrate the measurement setup into a hydrogen refueling station with the data stream implemented into a digital signal processing chain and a digital twin. T2 - 11th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring CY - Potsdam, Germany DA - 10.06.2024 KW - Acoustic emission KW - Ultrasonic guided waves KW - Fiber optic sensors KW - Hydrogen KW - Pressure vessels KW - Structural health monitoring KW - Machine learning PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-602764 UR - https://www.ndt.net/search/docs.php3?id=29702 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - NDT.net AN - OPUS4-60276 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Küttenbaum, Stefan A1 - Braml, T. A1 - Taffe, A. A1 - Maack, Stefan ED - Li, J. ED - Spanos, D. ED - Chen, J. B. ED - Peng, Y. B. T1 - Towards NDT-supported decisions on the reliability of existing bridges N2 - A major advantage in the reassessment of existing structures is the possibility of including measured data that describe the actual properties and the current condition of the structure to be reassessed. Currently, the incorporation of such measured information is mostly unregulated. However, the use of measurement results is vitally important, since a measured data-based improvement of the computation models level of approximation can lead at least to more meaningful results, possibly to extended remaining life times of the structure and in the best case to a saving of resources. Conversely, not appreciating well measurable and relevant information can be equated with a waste of resources. In this paper, a concept for the comparable use of non-destructively measured data as basic variables in probabilistic reliability assessments is outlined and examined using a typical prestressed concrete road bridge as a case-study. An essential requirement is the calculation of measurement uncertainties in order to evaluate the quality of the measurement results comparably. In conclusion, the example of ultrasonic and radar measurement data is used to demonstrate the effects that the incorporation of the measured information has on the reliability of the structure. T2 - 13th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICOSSAR 2021-2022) CY - Online meeting DA - 13.09.2022 KW - Measurement uncertainty KW - Reliability assessment KW - Existing structures KW - Concrete Bridge KW - Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-583013 SP - 1 EP - 10 AN - OPUS4-58301 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Karapanagiotis, Christos A1 - Schukar, Marcus A1 - Breithaupt, Mathias A1 - Hicke, Konstantin T1 - Toward a Digital Twin of Hydrogen Pressure Vessels Enabled by Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors N2 - We present a digital replica of a hydrogen pressure vessel enabled by distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS). This digital replica dynamically displays and updates the vessel’s structural condition by calculating strain residuals defined as the difference between the measured DFOS strain and the expected strain based on pressure data. As an example, we show the ability of the DFOS to detect and localize damage caused by drilling six holes into the vessel’s body. This digital replica represents a foundational step toward a fully integrated digital twin for predictive maintenance and remaining lifetime prognosis. T2 - Sensor and Measurement Science International (SMSI) 2025 CY - Nuremberg, Germany DA - 06.05.2025 KW - fiber optic sensors KW - digital twin KW - structural health monitoring KW - hydrogen KW - machine learning PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-633885 UR - https://www.ama-science.org/proceedings/details/5962 SN - 978-3-910600-06-5 DO - https://doi.org/10.5162/SMSI2025/C6.1 SP - 165 EP - 166 PB - AMA Service GmbH CY - Wunstorf AN - OPUS4-63388 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Lecompagnon, Julien A1 - Rooch, Ludwig A1 - Hassenstein, Christian A1 - Ziegler, Mathias ED - Sakagami, T. ED - Inoue, H. T1 - Total Focusing in the Virtual Wave Domain: 3D Defect Reconstruction Using Spatially Structured Laser Heating N2 - Classical active thermographic testing of industrial goods has mostly been limited to generating 2D defect maps. While for surface or near-surface defect detection, this is a desired result, for deeply buried defects, a 3D reconstruction of the defect geometry is coveted. This general trend can also be well observed in widely used NDT methods (radiography, ultrasonic testing), where the progression from 2D to 3D reconstruction methods has already made profound progress (CT, UT phased array transducers). Achieving a fully 3D defect reconstruction in active thermographic testing suffers from the diffusive nature of thermal processes. One possible solution to deal with thermal diffusion is the application of the virtual-wave concept, which, by solving an inverse problem, allows the diffusiveness to be extracted from the thermographic data in the post-processing stage. What is left follows propagating-wave physics, enabling the usage of well-known algorithms from ultrasonic testing. In this work, we present our progress in the 3D reconstruction of deeply buried defects using spatially structured laser heating in conjunction with applying the well-known total focusing method (TFM) in the virtual-wave domain. T2 - 18th International Workshop on Advanced Infrared Technology and Applications (AITA 2025) CY - Kobe, Japan DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Non-destructive testing KW - Virtual wave concept KW - Laser thermography KW - Thermal thomography PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-641463 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025129054 VL - 129 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 5 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-64146 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Spranger, Holger A1 - Beckmann, Jörg A1 - Boehm, Rainer T1 - THz-ToF techniques for the detection of inherent discontinuities in dielectric materials based on a SAFT – and an optical layer reconstruction algorithm N2 - Electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 0.1 and 10 THz are described as THz-radiation (T-ray). The ability to penetrate dielectric materials makes T-rays attractive to reveal discontinuities in polymer and ceramic materials. THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy Systems (THz-TDS) are available on the market today which operates with THz-pulses transmitted and received by optically pumped semiconductor antennas. In THz-TDS the travelling time (ToF) and shape of the pulse is changed if it interacts with the dielectric material and its inherent discontinuities. A tomogram of the object under the test can be reconstructed from time of flight diffraction (ToFD) scans if a synthetic focusing aperture (SAFT) algorithm is applied. Otherwise, planar discontinuities like cracks in plastics or delaminated layers in composites can be abstracted as layers located at any angle in relation to the outer sample surface direction. A tomogram from the scanned sample can then be reconstructed in case the interactions of electromagnetic pulses with the existing inherent interfaces are detectable and a model is assumed which describes the device under the test as multilayer structure composed of thin layers with different dielectric properties. A short description of both the SAFT – and Optical Layer algorithm for the reconstruction of the inherent structure is initially given. Measurements on representative samples with a variety of artificially produced small and large scale. Reconstructed tomograms are presented to discuss and evaluate the benefits and limits of the two different reconstruction approaches. T2 - 19th World Conference on Non-Destructive Testing 2016 CY - Munich, Germany DA - 13.06.2016 KW - THz SAFT Optical layer reconstruction PY - 2016 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-365866 SN - 978-3-940283-78-8 VL - 158 SP - 1 EP - 10 AN - OPUS4-36586 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Kotschate, Daniel A1 - Gohlke, Dirk A1 - Heckel, Thomas T1 - Three dimensional examination of directivity pattern in immersion tank testing N2 - High resolution examination of safety-relevant parts in immersion tank testing with focussing probes is forming a main topic of modern non-destructive testing. For the usage of complex reconstruction methods and algorithms, an individual and detailed knowledge about the transmission behaviour of the used probes is essential, as this has a significant influence on the results of data reconstruction. Especially the knowledge about position and diameter of the focal point is needed to achieve the highest possible sensitivity. Through the individual position of the beam axis within the examined volume, a four dimensional metro logical determination of the acoustical pressure (x, y, z, t) is necessary. With the measured data it is possible to draw interferences about the sound field and acoustical pressure distribution. The presented work realized a method of automatic determination of the beam axis, the position of focal point and the focal diameter to support individual testing setups and transducer characterization. T2 - 7th International Symposium on NDT in Aerospace CY - Bremen, Germany DA - 16.11.2015 PY - 2015 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-339995 AN - OPUS4-33999 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Chaudhuri, Somsubhro A1 - Purayil, Sruthi Krishna Kunji A1 - Kruse, Julius A1 - Madia, Mauro A1 - Nielsen, Sören T1 - Thermography-Assisted Mechanical Testing of Cold-Spray (AM) Repair N2 - Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM) is a solid-state process that is being increasingly used for structural repairs in aerospace and energy sectors. It enables the deposition of dense material at low temperatures by accelerating metal particles to supersonic velocities, thereby reducing thermal distortion. However, the structural integrity of CSAM repairs—particularly at the interface between the deposited layer and the substrate—remains a critical concern. Various post-treatments and characterization methods have been explored to optimize performance. While X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) is effective for sub-surface inspection, it cannot be applied in situ during mechanical testing. Digital Image Correlation (DIC), a surface-based method, also lacks sub-surface sensitivity. To address this, Infrared Thermography (IRT) was employed alongside DIC during the tensile and fatigue testing of aluminum CSAM-repaired specimens. A cooled IRT camera operating at 200 FPS captured thermal data, with lock-in processing subsequently applied in post-processing. IRT successfully detected early interfacial damage and enabled the tracking of crack propagation, which was later confirmed through fracture surface analysis. This extended abstract presents findings from fatigue tests using IRT. T2 - 18th International Workshop on Advanced Infrared Technology and Applications (AITA 2025) CY - Kobe, Japan DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Thermography KW - Thermografie KW - Thermal stress analysis KW - Cold spray KW - Damage detection PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-642299 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025129018 VL - 129 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 5 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-64229 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Krankenhagen, Rainer A1 - Röllig, Mathias A1 - Worzewski, Tamara A1 - Doroshtnasir, Manoucher T1 - Thermographic rotor blade inspection from larger distances – a promising tool for the maintenance of wind turbines N2 - The permanently increasing number of wind turbines requires suited inspection and monitoring methods to ensure liability and security. Concerning the inspection of ro-tor blades, only manual inspections are state of the art. Thermographic Testing (TT) has the potential to detect typical failures and damages on rotor blades. The paper presents some results of onsite measurements carried out as “passive thermogra-phy”, i.e. without a defined heating procedure. Due the totally contactless meas-urement principle, TT can be applied to rotating blades as well as to resting blades. Both methods will be compared with respect to their possible realization. T2 - WCNDT 2016 CY - Munich, Germany DA - 13.06.2016 KW - Wind turbine rotor blade KW - Thermographic inspection KW - Passive thermography KW - Nondestructive testing PY - 2016 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-366331 SN - 978-3-940283-78-8 SP - We.4.D.4., 1 EP - 8 AN - OPUS4-36633 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -