In this contribution we present a novel thermo-acoustic approach for the generation of broad band airborne ultrasound and investigate the applicability of resonance-free thermo-acoustic emitters for very short high pressure airborne ultrasound pulses. We report on measurements of thermo-acoustic emitter consisting of a 30 nm thin metallic film on a usual soda-lime glass substrate, generating sound pressure values of more than 140 dB at 60 mm distance from the transducer and compare the results with conventional piezoelectric airborne ultrasound transducers. Our experimental investigations show that such thermo-acoustic devices can be used as broad band emitters using pulse excitation.
NDT is a multidisciplinary research area fusing the disciplines of natural Science and engineering. Particularly in the early development stages of a new testing method, feasibility investigations focus on the fundamental physical interaction between the sensing mechanism and specimen. Research activities during subsequent phases of modular prototype development, technical System Integration and Validation primarily attempt to solve the practical engineering and real-life aspects of a testing method. We show several examples of new methods in different stages of development and highlight the potential for further industrial use. The first section deals with Steel surfaces of lightweight components which are
inspected with pm-sized magneto resistive sensor arrays. This quantitative magnetic stray field approach combines high spatial resolution and very high sensitivity, enabling the user to detect even very small micro-defects. Tuming to CFRP components we also show new developments in airbome ultrasonic testing. Here we use ferroelectret foils to reduce the acoustical mismatch between transducer and air, which enhances the signal-to-noise ratio. A further example illuminates the use of metallic nano layers as a broadband thermo acoustical emitter. Their use provides both high sound pressures and very broadband Signal characteristics. When it comes to CFRP components and other anisotropic and highly Scattering materials, ultrasonic matrix arrays in conjunction with many angles of incidences per transducer position can help to enhance the statistics of a testing problem. In the field of conventional water-coupled UT testing we also show the use of matrix array transducers
providing a tomographic-like 3D-image of impact damage in CFRP samples.
A method has been developed for the generation of airborne ultrasound using the thermoacoustic principle applied to carbon materials at the micro- and nanoscale. Such materials are shown to be capable to emitting the ultrasound. We tested the acoustic performance of electrospun polyacrylonitrile-derived carbon nanofibers tissues and determined the sound pressure for frequencies up to 350 kHz. The experimental results are compared to analytic calculations.
A novel approach for the generation of broadband airborne ultrasound by using the thermo-acoustic effect is presented in this contribution. We investigate the applicability of resonance-free thermo-acoustic emitters for generation of very short high pressure airborne ultrasound pulses. A thermoacoustic emitter consisting of a 30 nm thin metallic film on a usual soda-lime glass substrate generates sound pressure values of more than 140 dB at 60 mm distance. The results are compared with conventional piezoelectric airborne ultrasound transducers. Our investigations show the applicability of the thermo-acoustic devices for broadband and high pressure ultrasound emitters using pulse excitation.
Novel air-coupled ultrasonic transducer combining the thermoacoustic with the piezoelectric effect
(2016)
In recent years, there has been an increasing industrial demand for one-sided inspection of various structures by means of air-coupled ultrasonic technique. Lightweight structures based on carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers may have very complex shapes, making air-coupled transmission difficult or even impossible. The inspection of concrete structures is another example where one-sided inspection is required.
To address these challenges a new type of transducer for air-coupled pulse-echo inspection was developed, which unites two principles: thermoacoustic emission and piezoelectric reception. The thermoacoustic emitter is a titanium electrode with a thickness of several tens of nanometer. This electrode was deposited onto charged cellular polypropylene, which serves as a piezoelectric receiver. The thermoacoustic transmission is based on a transformation of the thermal energy of an electrically heated electrode into the acoustic energy of an ultrasonic wave. Thermoacoustic emitters provide resonance-free behaviour and thus extremely broadband pulses. Charged cellular polypropylene is piezoelectric due to the polarization of its cells and it is well matched to air, with a Young modulus in the order of magnitude of MPa. In this contribution we present some pulse-echo measurements with the first prototypes of the combined thermoacoustic-piezoelectric transducer.
In unserem Beitrag präsentieren wir ein verallgemeinertes physikalisches Modell der thermischen Schallerzeugung. Im Gegensatz zur existierenden analytischen Näherungen erlaubt es eine exakte analytische Vorhersage des thermisch generierten Schalldrucks in Fluiden und Festkörpern, berücksichtigt die akustischen Nahefeld- und Schallschwächungseffekte und ist anwendbar für beliebige thermische Energiequellen, wie stromdurchflossene elektrische Leiter aber auch chemische Reaktionen, Plasmabrennen oder Laseranregung. Zur Verifikation des Modells vergleichen wir die analytischen Ergebnisse mit experimentellen Schalldruckmessungen an thermo-akustischen Emittern in Luft in einem Frequenzband von 4 kHz bis 1 MHz. Zusätzlich wurde die Effizienz der Wandler mit der von konventionellen piezoelektrischen Luftultraschallwandlern verglichen. Da die Schallerzeugung ohne mechanisch bewegliche Komponenten auskommt, arbeiten die thermo-akustischen Emitter resonanzfrei. Somit ist es möglich, beliebig geformte Schallsignale exakt und frei von Nachschwingen zu erzeugen. Thermo-akustische Schallemitter haben damit das Potenzial für eine breite Anwendung in der angewandten Akustik als leistungsfähige und resonanzfreie Schallsender mit einer Bandbreite bis in den Subgigahertz-Bereich.