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To improve ultrasonic imaging of concrete structures, we transferred a seismic migration technique, the Reverse Time Migration (RTM), to non-destructive testing. A 2D elastic RTM algorithm was tested on synthetic ultrasonic echo data. Compared to the typically used synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) as well as our acoustic RTM algorithm, the presented elastic RTM results show an enhancement in imaging vertical reflectors and complex features inside the 2D numerical concrete model.
The ultrasonic echo technique is widely used in non-destructive testing for investigation and damage analysis of concrete constructions. Important applications include thickness measurements, geometry determination, the localization and characterization of built-in components as well as the detection of quality issues (cracks, honeycombing, low concrete strength).
To improve ultrasonic data imaging of complicated structures in concrete, we transferred a seismic migration technique, the Reverse Time Migration (RTM), to non-destructive testing in civil engineering. In a preliminary study, we tested a 2D acoustic RTM algorithm on measured ultrasonic echo data acquired at a concrete foundation slab. Compared to the conventional used synthetic aperture focusing technique algorithms (SAFT) for ultrasonic data reconstruction, our acoustic RTM results showed a significant improvement in imaging the interior structure of the concrete slab. Vertical reflectors were reconstructed which was not possible by traditional imaging.
In contrast to SAFT, RTM is a wavefield-continuation method in time and uses the full wave equation. RTM is, thus, able to include multiple reflections and to handle multi-pathing as well as many other complex situations. As a drawback RTM requires extensive computing power and memory capacity. Nevertheless, due to progresses in parallel processing and other computational technologies RTM has become appealing for the application in the field of non-destructive testing.
An RTM algorithm, which uses the full elastic wave equation instead of the full acoustic one (as applied in our preliminary work) has the potential to optimize the imaging results even further. This is due to the fact, that our ultrasonic measurement data are generated by exciting elastic waves. Thus, in a first step, two 2D elastic RTM algorithms were tested on synthetic ultrasonic echo data generated with a concrete model consisting of several steps and circular shaped air inclusions. In addition, two imaging conditions were evaluated to reduce migration artifacts. Our synthetic elastic RTM results showed an enhancement in imaging the features inside the test model compared to acoustic RTM and SAFT. In a second step, we acquired ultrasonic measurement data at a concrete test specimen consisting of three steps and four air filled tendon ducts. The evaluation of the real data with our elastic RTM code was also successful and the reconstruction of the geometries of the steps and tendon ducts could be improved. With our study we have shown that elastic RTM is a step forward for ultrasonic testing in civil engineering.
Ultrasonic echo testing is widely used in non-destructive testing to investigate concrete structures as well as to locate built-in components or inhomogeneities. Currently, Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique algorithms (SAFT) are used for imaging. These algorithms are highly developed but have some limitations. It is not possible to image the lower boundary of tendon ducts or vertical reflectors. We adopted a geophysical imaging technique, the Reverse Time Migration (RTM), to non-destructive testing in order to improve the imaging of complicated structures in concrete. By using the entire wavefield there are fewer limitations compared to SAFT.
In a first step, simulations for polyamide and concrete structures were performed by using a 2D acoustic finite difference code. The simulations were followed by experiments at a polyamide specimen. Here we were able to determine shape and size of boreholes with a sufficient accuracy. After these successful tests we carried out experiments at a reinforced concrete foundation slab. The reconstruction of the structure of the lower boundary of the slab was improved and vertical reflectors inside the slab were imaged clearly. These tests on polyamide and concrete showed that RTM is a step forward for ultrasonic testing. However we observed migration artifacts and difficulties in imaging 3D structures.
In a second step we implemented a 2D elastic RTM code, since for our ultrasonic measurements elastic waves are emitted. The modeling code is included in the Madagascar software package. The required computing power for performing elastic RTM is significantly high. Thus we need appropriate computer hardware to obtain meaningful results within an adequate time frame. Using our hardware RTM of an ultrasonic data set takes far too long (3 months).
We applied the elastic code to ultrasonic data acquired on a concrete specimen which contains vertical reflectors. A comparison of the acoustic RTM results with those obtained by elastic RTM showed an improvement in the image quality.
Future work includes the analysis of RTM artifacts and the expansion of the algorithm to three dimensions. Another topic to be addressed is to how to account for the size of the ultrasonic transducer arrays which we are using.