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Eingeladener Vortrag
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Ultrasonic echo testing is a well-established non-destructive testing technique used to investigate the interior of concrete structures in civil engineering. For the reconstruction of internal features, methods similar to seismic imaging are applied. To improve the ultrasonic imaging capabilities, we investigate the potential of a newly available 3D matrix mode measurement device in combination with advanced imaging techniques.
Commonly used ultrasonic array measurement devices rely on several ultrasonic transducers coupled to act as one transducer that transmits or receives transversal ultrasound waves. Although this approach is well suited to detect elongated structures such as pipes and rebars, it has limitations if 3D embedded objects are present. Hence, the ultrasonic device MiraA1040Pro used here is designed to measure the ultrasonic wavefield on a 4 by 16 matrix of individual transducers. For testing, we used laboratory specimens with linear and spheric embedded structures first. Both linear and matrix mode measurements were conducted and analysed using the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique
(SAFT) which is similar to Kirchhoff migration. Second, we used a data set from Teutschenthal mine at a shotcrete specimen constructed to simulate engineered barriers tailored for nuclear waste repositories. Ultrasonic measurements were investigated as a tool for quality assurance of these structures. The specimen contains both artificial 3D artifacts as well as naturally occurring defects such as a delamination. To make use of the advanced data acquisition, focusing 3D imaging techniques are applied to further improve the imaging quality.
Generally, the reconstructed images from the 3D matrix mode data have a lower level of Signal-to-Noise-Ratio than the 2D linear mode because the source signal is weaker compared to the linear mode. Moreover, complex wave conversions of the SH-transversal wave occur that are reduced in the 2D linear scenario. However, clearer images can be achieved at non-linear features, particularly with focusing imaging methods. Thus, combining 3D data acquisition techniques with advanced imaging methods improves the success in imaging complex concrete structures. This is of particular interest for thick concrete structures in nuclear barrier systems or foundations. Additionally, we demonstrate opportunities to use well-constrained test laboratory scenarios from non-destructive testing as a practical test case for geophysical methods.
The Large Aperture Ultrasound System (LAUS) developed at BAM is known for its ability to penetrate thick objects, especially concrete structures commonly used in nuclear waste storage and other applications in civil engineering. Although the current system effectively penetrates up to ~9 m, further optimization is imperative to enhance the safety and integrity of disposal structures for radioactive or toxic waste. This study focuses on enhancing the system’s efficiency by optimizing the transducer spacing, ensuring that resolution is not compromised. An array of twelve horizontal shear wave transducers was used to find a balance between penetration depth and resolution. Systematic adjustments of the spacing between transmitter and receiver units were undertaken based on target depth ranges of known reflectors at depth ranges from 5 m to 10 m. The trade-offs between resolution and artifact generation were meticulously assessed. This comprehensive study employs a dual approach using both simulations and measurements to investigate the performance of transducer units spaced at 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm. We found that for depths up to 5 m, a spacing of 10 cm for LAUS transducer units provided the best resolution as confirmed by both simulations and measurements. This optimal distance is particularly effective in achieving clear reflections and a satisfactory signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in imaging scenarios with materials such as thick concrete structures. However, when targeting depths greater than 10 m, we recommend increasing the distance between the transducers to 20 cm. This increased spacing improves the SNR in comparison to other spacings, as seen in the simulation of a 10 m deep backwall. Our results emphasize the critical role of transducer spacing in achieving the desired SNR and resolution, especially in the context of depth imaging requirements for LAUS applications. In addition to the transducer spacing, different distances between individual sets of measurement positions were tested. Overall, keeping the minimal possible distance between measurement position offsets provides the best imaging results at greater depths. The proposed optimizations for the LAUS in this study are primarily relevant to applications on massive nuclear structures for nuclear waste management. This research highlights the need for better LAUS efficiency in applications such as sealing structures, laying the foundation for future technological advances in this field.
Engineering barrier systems are a crucial part of the safe underground disposal of radioactive waste, particularly in salt as a host rock. Sealing structures made of tailored concrete are under test at various sites in Germany. To characterise the material properties of the concrete and potentially also the bonding to the host rock as part of the necessary subsurface structures, we apply non-destructive testing making use of advanced geophysical imaging methods.
Ultrasonic investigations have been carried out at underground concrete structures in the Teutschenthal mine in Germany. Here, we show results from two distinct constructions produced in a shotcrete procedure. Our goal is to analyse the performance of ultrasonics to be used as quality assurance for sealing structures made from shotcrete. First, a ~10 m long shotcrete structure is investigated with the help of a unique Large Aperture Ultrasonic System (LAUS) allowing for depth penetration of > 9 m. We perform measurements at the front and from the side of the construction. Second, we obtain results from a 1 m thick shotcrete body containing several artificial defects (width up to 8 cm). Ultrasonic testing data were acquired using a commercial multi-static device. Additionally, a new device measuring with 3D mode instead of line mode is applied and preliminary results will be shown.
Generally, the acquired ultrasonic data are analysed by the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique that is commonly applied in non-destructive testing. As a result, reflectors in the analysed shotcrete structures are imaged. Individual reflections from internal features and particularly the opposite wall are identified. An unexpected delamination wider than 30 cm is clearly imaged and later verified by boreholes. Thus, the method is – in general – suitable to serve as a quality measure. However, particularly the small and deep artificial defects can hardly be identified in the resulting images. Thus, we use advanced geophysical imaging methods to further enhance the quality of the obtained images. The recorded ultrasonic energy is focused to the physically reflective origin in the analysed volume. First results clearly show that we successfully improve the image quality regarding noise level and artifacts and hence facilitate the detection of objects.
In total, we present a valuable experiment under realistic conditions for underground sealing structures made from shotcrete, where the locations of artificial reflectors are partly known. This experiment serves as a unique basis to analyse the performance of advanced analysis methods to obtain high-quality images of the structure’s interior. Hence, the developed ultrasonic testing and analysis schemes can serve as a part of quality assurance that will help to enable safe sealing structures for nuclear waste disposal.
Im Rahmen des Seminars "Angewandte Forschungsthemen (SAFT)" am Institut für Geowissenschaften der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel werden verschiedene geophysikalische Methoden vorgestellt, die bei der zerstörungsfreien Prüfung im Bauwesen zum Einsatz kommen. Neben einem Überblick der Arbeiten an der BAM im Allgemeinen und dem Fachbereich im Besonderen geht es vor allem um den Einsatz von Ultraschallmethoden. Drei wesentliche Schwerpunkte werden dabei beleuchtet:
1) (Geophysikalische) Antworten auf Herausforderungen bei Ultraschall-Anwendungen
2) Material research and multi-sensory monitoring for concrete sealing structures in rock salt unterground repositories (Projekt SealWasteSafe)
und 3) Untersuchung von Spritzbeton-Probekörpern unter Tage mit Ultraschall zur Qualitätssicherung von Verschlussbauwerken.
Insgesamt werden diverse Möglichkeiten für die Geophysik für Forschung und Studierende im Bereich der zerstörungsfreien Prüfung im Bauwesen aufgezeigt.
Within the project SealWasteSafe, we advance construction materials and non-destructive monitoring concepts of sealing structures applied for underground disposal of nuclear waste. As these engineered barriers have high demands regarding structural integrity, an innovative alkali-activated material (AAM) that is highly suitable for the application in salt as a host rock is improved and tested on two laboratory scales. This AAM has a low heat evolution due to the reaction mechanism in comparison to common salt concretes based on Portland cement or magnesium oxychloride binders. Hence, crack formation due to thermally induced stress during the hardening process is reduced.
After successful laboratory tests with small specimens (height ~5 cm), comparably manufactured large cubic (edge length 70 cm) and cylindrical specimens (height 120 cm, diameter 40 cm) are equipped with sensing technologies to demonstrate the sensors´ technical capabilities. A comprehensive multi-sensory monitoring scheme is developed and investigated to characterize and compare the different material behaviour during the setting and hardening process of two materials: (1) the newly developed AAM-based mortars with salt aggregate, and (2) a blended Portland cement-based salt concrete as reference. The analysed parameters include temperature and humidity of the material, acoustic emissions, and strain variations recorded by fiber optic cables. Passive sensor systems based on radiofrequency identification technology (RFID) embedded in the concrete provide an interface for the wireless readout of various sensors. In parallel to the embedded RFID sensors, conventional cabled systems to read out the temperature and humidity measurements are installed for comparison. Additionally, a detailed inspection of the two large cubic specimens after a monitoring period of more than six months has been undertaken. Active thermography and ultrasonic echo measurements are used to reveal potentially occurring inner cracks from the surface. To verify the non-invasive results, a core sample (diameter 2 cm) was extracted from each of the investigated cubic specimens and analysed in detail with X-ray computed tomography.
Furthermore, ultrasonic methods are used for quality assurance to detect obstacles, cracks, and delamination at in-situ scale sealing structures. Experimental layout and applied imaging techniques are optimised to enhance the image quality for measurements from the front side of the engineered barrier. To characterize the inside of the test sealing structure and to improve the detection of potentially existing cracks, an ultrasonic borehole probe using the phased array technique is developed. First analyses at a half-spherical specimen coincide with modelling results and prove the reliability of the directional response caused by the phased array technique of the newly constructed ultrasonic borehole probe. Overall, the project SealWasteSafe helps to characterize construction materials and improves multi-sensory monitoring concepts and ultrasonic equipment for the sake of quality assurance. Particularly for salt as a host rock, this will help to design safe sealing structures for nuclear waste disposal.
Für die sichere Endlagerung nuklearer Abfälle sind im Salzgestein Verschlussbauwerke aus Salzbeton als geotechnischen Barrieren vorgesehen. Um die Integrität der Bauwerke im Rahmen einer Qualitätssicherung nachzuweisen, eignet sich eine zerstörungsfreie Prüfung (ZfP) mit Ultraschall-Verfahren. Potenziell auftretende Risse oder Ablösungen sowie Einbauteile können detektiert werden. Um die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Ultraschall-Echo-Messungen sowie der Auswertemethoden zu untersuchen, wurden in einem aus Spritzbeton hergestellten Testbauwerk in der Grube Teutschenthal (bei Halle, Deutschland) verschiedene Störkörper während der Betonage eingebettet. Die Störkörper (Breite 3 cm bis ~8 cm) liegen in Tiefen von etwa 30 cm bis 80 cm und repräsentieren Hohlräume, Risse oder Inhomogenitäten des Betons. Von der Oberfläche führten wir Ultraschall-Echo-Messungen auf einer Fläche von etwa 100x150 cm² in einem 3D Modus durch. Die Auswertung erfolgte zunächst mithilfe der in der ZfP etablierten Synthetic-Aperture-Focusing Technique (SAFT), die der Kirchhoff Migration ähnelt. Insgesamt wird eine Vielzahl von Reflektoren im Bauwerk abgebildet, die jedoch nur in wenigen Fällen den eingebauten Störkörpern zugeordnet werden konnten, so dass auch die Grenzen des Verfahrens bei dieser Bauweise deutlich werden. Allerdings konnte eine ungeplante großflächige (>30 cm) Ablösung nachgewiesen und durch anschließende Bohrungen verifiziert werden. Um das strukturelle Abbild des Bauwerksinneren trotz des stark streuenden Spritzbetons zu verbessern, wenden wir fokussierende Migrationsverfahren an. Erste Ergebnisse zeigen, dass eine klarere Abbildung einzelner Reflektoren erreicht werden kann. Dies erleichtert die Detektion einzelner Objekte. Das hier präsentierte Experiment mit bekannten Reflektoren unter realen Bedingungen mit Spritzbeton unter Tage bietet hervorragende Möglichkeiten zur Überprüfung von methodischen Weiterentwicklungen im Bereich der Ultraschallanalyse. Durch die Verbesserung der Auswertemethodik und der darauf basierenden ultraschallbasierten Qualitätssicherungskonzepte werden insgesamt sicherere Verschlussbauwerke für nukleare Endlager ermöglicht.
Multi-sensory monitoring and ultrasound for quality assurance at underground sealing structures
(2023)
Within the safety concepts of underground disposal sites of nuclear waste, engineered barriers play an important role. As these sealing structures have high demands concerning integrity, we aim at advancing the available construction materials, monitoring, and inspection techniques within the project SealWasteSafe. A specifically developed alkali-activated material is compared to classical salt concrete. A comprehensive multi-sensory monitoring scheme is used at 150-340 l specimens to monitor setting and hardening of both materials. All sensors are demonstrated to resist the highly alkaline environments. Besides cabled and wireless temperature and humidity of the materials, strain variations using fibre optic sensors and acoustic emissions are recorded over periods of at least 28 days, partly for more than eight months. After hardening of the specimens, further nondestructive evaluations using ultrasonic echo and thermographic measurements are conducted.
Preliminary results proof the suitability of the tested sensors and clearly highlight differences between the tested materials. Particularly, the newly developed alkali-activated material shows lower acoustic emission activity indicating less cracking activity. Additionally, unique ultrasonic methods will enable better images of potential internal objects and cracks at in-situ sealing structures. A largescale ultrasonic system is optimised to reliably detect objects at a depth exceeding 9 m while still obtaining a good resolution. Modelling studies show the potential of further increasing the distance between individual transducer arrays. Additionally, a new ultrasonic borehole probe using phased arrays allowing for beam focussing is constructed and tested. Laboratory measurements at a halfcylindrical concrete specimen coincide well with the previous modelling. In total, the presented safe materials, detailed monitoring approaches and ultrasonic quality assurance methods will help to obtain safe sealing structures within salt as a host rock. The concepts can partly be transferred to sealing structures in alternative host rocks and will also be valuable for non-nuclear waste repositories.
Multi-sensory monitoring and ultrasound for quality assurance at underground sealing structures
(2023)
Within the safety concepts of underground disposal sites of nuclear waste, engineered barriers play an important role. As these sealing structures have high demands concerning integrity, we aim at advancing the available construction materials, monitoring and inspection techniques within the project SealWasteSafe.
After successful laboratory analysis on the cm-scale, cylindrical and cuboid specimens on the m-scale are produced from classical salt concrete and a specifically developed alkali-activated material. A comprehensive multi-sensory monitoring scheme is applied to compare the setting process of both materials and to demonstrate the sensors’ resistance to highly alkaline environments. Besides temperature and humidity of the materials, strain variations using fibre optic sensors and acoustic emissions are recorded over periods of at least 28 days, partly for more than 8 months. Passive sensor systems based on radiofrequency identification technology (RFID) embedded in the concrete allow for wireless access to temperature and humidity measurements and are compared to conventional cabled systems. After hardening and removal of the outer casings of the specimens, further non-destructive evaluations using ultrasonic echo and thermographic measurements are conducted. Preliminary results clearly highlight differences between the tested materials, particularly showing lower acoustic emission activity for the newly developed alkali-activated material potentially indicating less phase changes or cracks.
Complementary, ultrasonic methods are improved to be used for quality assurance to detect obstacles, potential cracks and delamination at in-situ sealing structure scale. A unique large aperture ultrasonic system (LAUS) with depth penetration as large as 9 m has already successfully been applied at the test site in Morsleben, Germany, of the federal company for radioactive waste disposal (BGE). Modelling studies help to further optimize the measurement layout. Advanced imaging techniques applied to the modelled and measured data will further improve the obtained images of internal structures. Additionally, an ultrasonic borehole probe is developed and constructed using phased arrays to further enhance the detection of potential cracks. Modelling and preliminary results from laboratory specimens prove the feasibility and potential of the directional response even in heterogeneous material such as concrete. Final investigations under in-situ conditions at the test site of the sealing structure are planned.
Overall, the project SealWasteSafe improves the construction material, multi-sensory monitoring, and ultrasound for quality assurance to allow for the development of safe nuclear sealing structures. Although the techniques are tailored for sealing structures within salt as a host rock, they are transferrable to a wider field of applications and alternative disposal conditions.
During the webinar "Dismantling and waste management: a playground for innovation" the innovative aspects of the PREDIS work package "innovations in cemented waste handling and pre-disposal storage" are presented. The webinar is jointly organised by Women in Nuclear Decommissioning (WINDI) and Women in Nuclear Innovation (WINI). The shown innovations include quality assurance (mainly NDE) and monitoring technologies with associated sensor systems, digital twin technology, and appropriate data handling including a decision framework. An overview of the on-going research in the field of pre-disposal waste management in the project Predis (WP7) is summarised.
The structural integrity of sealing structures in underground repositories for radioactive waste is a major concern regarding safe disposal. Non-destructive testing plays a very important role in the safety of this sealing structures. Ultrasonic pulse echo technology has been established in the construction industry as a non-destructive testing method for locating potential defects and material characterization of concrete structures. A borehole probe is an ultrasonic pulse-echo device used to investigate the internal structures of salt concrete. A prototype borehole probe is successfully demonstrated with the existing research borehole in the test site using a commercially available flaw detector. A novel phased array borehole probe that allows the beam to be focused based on the delay law was constructed and tested. The directivity measurements on the semi-cylindrical concrete sample agree well with the simulation results for the different focusing angles. In combination with geophysical reconstruction methods, the optimized radiation pattern of the probe is expected to improve the signal quality and thus increase the reliability of the imaging results. In addition, a unique large aperture ultrasound system (LAUS) is expected to provide enhanced images of possible cracks and embedded objects in in-situ structures. LAUS will be optimized to reliably detect objects at depths greater than 9 m and, at the same time, provide good resolution. Modeling studies show the potential to increase the distance between the transducer arrays further, and the same configuration has been successfully tested on a thick concrete wall. Overall, the paper shows that quality assurance using ultrasonic testing is crucial for constructing safe sealing structures to dispose of radioactive or toxic waste.