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In this work, we present our results achieved in several research activities for development of distributed fiber optic radiation sensors using glass and polymer optical fibers. The findings show that both the measurement of the radiation-induced attenuation (RIA) along the entire sensing fiber and the accompanying change in the refractive index of the fiber core can be used for distributed radiation monitoring.
In this work, we report on our progress for investigating a new experimental approach for thermographic detection of internal defects by performing 2D photothermal super resolution reconstruction. We use modern high-power laser projector technology to repeatedly excite the sample surface photothermally with varying spatially structured 2D pixel patterns. In the subsequent (blind) numerical reconstruction, multiple measurements are combined by exploiting the joint-sparse nature of the defects within the specimen using nonlinear convex optimization methods. As a result, a 2D-sparse defect/inhomogeneity map can be obtained. Using such spatially structured heating combined with compressed sensing and computational imaging methods allows to significantly reduce the experimental complexity and to study larger test surfaces as compared to the one-dimensional approach reported earlier.
Early detection of fatigue cracks and accurate measurements of the crack growth play an important role in the maintenance and repair strategies of steel structures exposed to cyclic loads during their service life. Observation of welded connections is especially of high relevance due to their higher susceptibility to fatigue damage. The aim of this contribution was to monitor fatigue crack growth in thick welded specimens during fatigue tests as holistically as possible, by implementing multiple NDT methods simultaneously in order to record the crack initiation and propagation until the final fracture. In addition to well-known methods such as strain gauges, thermography, and ultrasound, the crack luminescence method developed at the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), which makes cracks on the surface particularly visible, was also used. For data acquisition, a first data fusion concept was developed and applied in order to synchronize the data of the different methods and to evaluate them to a large extent automatically. The resulting database can ultimately also be used to access, view, and analyze the experimental data for various NDT methods. During the conducted fatigue tests, the simultaneous measurements of the same cracking process enabled a comprehensive comparison of the methods, highlighting their individual strengths and limitations. More importantly, they showed how a synergetic combination of different NDT methods can be beneficial for implementation in large-scale fatigue testing but also in monitoring and inspection programs of in-service structures - such as the support structures of offshore wind turbines.
Capillary active interior insulation materials are an important approach to minimize energy losses of historical buildings. A key factor for their performance is a high liquid conductivity, which enables redistribution of liquid moisture within the material. We set up an experiment to investigate the development of moisture profiles within two different interior insulation materials, calcium-silicate (CaSi) and expanded perlite (EP), under constant boundary conditions. The moisture profiles were determined by two different methods: simple destructive sample slicing with subsequent thermogravimetric drying as well as non-destructive NMR measurements with high spatial resolution. The moisture profiles obtained from both methods show good agreement, when compared at the low spatial resolution of sample slicing, which demonstrates the reliability of this method. Moreover, the measured T2-relaxation-time distributions across the sample depth were measured, which may give further insight into the saturation degree of the different pore sizes. In order to explain differences in the moisture profiles between CaSi and EP, we determined their pore-size distribution with different methods: conversion of the NMR T2 relaxationtime distribution at full saturation, mercury intrusion porosimetry and indirect determination from pressure plate measurements. CaSi shows a unimodal distribution at small pore diameters, while in EP, a bi-modal or wider distribution was found. We assume that the smaller pore diameters of CaSi lead to a higher capillary conductivity, which causes a more distributed moisture profile in comparison with that of EP.
Defect detection in concrete pile using impulse response measurements with sine sweep excitations
(2015)
For pile integrity inspection, a low cost and portable shaker was used to create the sine sweep signal for pile excitation. The impulse response function, calculated by the deconvolution of pile response from the sine sweep excitation, was proposed to identify the echoes in the piles due to the pile’s impedance changes. The proposed methodology has been evaluated and validated both numerically and experimentally. Based on the results from the simulations and experiments, it was found that the impulse response measurement with sine sweep excitation could be an effective tool to detect the echoes of the pile toe and the defects in the pile.
Damage caused by stress concentrations in the complex mesoscopic geometry of concrete leads to continuous stress redistribution over the material’s life time. The presented fatigue damage model
captures this by resolving each load cycle in a cycle-by-cycle time integration. The model extends a static damage model to failure caused by the (time dependent) strain amplitudes and, thus, allows calibrating the majority of the material’s parameters in static experiments.
X5CrNiCuNb16-4 has been proven to be sufficient resistant in corrosive environments, but shows rather unusual corrosion behaviour in CCS environment. Therefore a series of 30 specimens was tested at stress amplitudes between 150 MPa and 500 MPa (sinusoidal dynamic test loads, R=-1; resonant frequency ∼ 30 Hz). Due to the rather heterogeneous fine machined surfaces (Rz=4) the specimens are comparable with prefabricated parts. X5CrNiCuNb16-4 reached the maximum number of cycles (10 x 106) at a stress amplitude of 150 MPa and lies 60% below the stress amplitude measured in air. The scatter range TN = 1:34 is disproportionately large. Although the fracture surface exhibited the typical striations and corroded surface areas no significant differences were found. The hardness was found to be homogeneous in all specimens tested at 335 HV10. Non-metallic inclusions were found within the microstructure, but no correlation could be found between the inclusions and early rupture. Still specimens that showed inclusions at the fracture surface and its cross section endured lower number of cycles. Additionally Aluminium was analysed in specimens with low number of cycles and may be cause for early rupture during corrosion fatigue tests. These findings reveal a very high sensitivity on a homogeneous microstructure upon the corrosion and corrosion fatigue behaviour of X5CrNiCuNb16-4 and needs to be taken into account when regarding this steel as pipe steel during injection of CO2 into saline aquifers.
The moisture content of screed samples is monitored by means of embedded sensors. Relative humidity sensors and multi-ring-electrodes are used to measure the spatial moisture distribution during desorption. Based on the humidity data and the pore volume distribution, the moisture and the water layer thickness within the pore space are predicted.
Slit shape as well as cylindrical pores are evaluated. Finally, the measured real part of the electrical impedance and the calculated water layer thickness are correlated. Based on the available data, a significant trend change of the impedance is documented at a water layer thickness of approximately 3 nm. This water layer thickness corresponds to a relative humidity of 88.3%.
A novel approach to strongly suppress artifacts in radiography and computed tomography caused by the effect of diffuse background Signals (backlight) of 2D X-ray detectors is suggested. Depending on the detector geometry the mechanism may be different, either based on the optical scattering of the fluorescent screen materials into optical detection devices or Compton or X-ray fluorescence scattering by the detector components. Consequently, these erroneous intensity portions result in locally different violations of Lambert Beers law in single projections (radiographs).
When used as input data for computed tomography these violations are directly observed via modulation of the projected mass as a function of the rotation Phase and the samples aspect ratio (dynamics). The magnitude of the diffuse Background signal depends on the detector area covered by the projected sample. They are more pronounced the smaller the shaded area and the stronger the total attenuation.
Moreover, the local intensity mismatch depends on the attenuation of the sample.
We present very basic reference data measured with multiple metal foils at a synchrotron radiation source. Beam hardening artifacts can be excluded due to the monochromatic radiation. The proposed correction procedure assumes a constant (non-local) scattering mechanism.
A new type of ultrasonic borehole probe is currently under development for the quality assurance of sealing structures in radioactive waste repositories using existing research boreholes. The goal is to examine the sealing structures made of salt concrete for possible cracks, delamination, and embedded objects. Earlier prototype probes use 12 or 16 individual dry point contact (DPC) horizontal shear wave transducers grouped into a transmitter and a receiver array, each made up of six or eight individual transducers. They are operated with a commercially available portable ultrasonic flaw detector used in the civil engineering industry. To increase the generated sound pressure of the borehole probe, the number of transducers in the novel probe is increased to 32. In addition, timed excitation of each probe is used to direct a focused sound beam to a specific angle and distance based on calculated time delays. Hence, the sensitive test volume is limited, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signals is improved. This paper presents the validation of the newly developed phased array borehole probe by beam computation in CIVA software and experimental investigations on a semi-cylindrical test specimen to investigate the directional characteristics. In combination with geophysical reconstruction techniques, an optimised radiation pattern of the probe is expected to improve the signal quality and thus increase the reliability of the imaging results.
This is of great importance for the construction of safe sealing structures needed for the disposal of radioactive or toxic waste.
With ongoing innovation in process technology, the challenges of concrete technology are more and more focused on the rheological optimisation for these processes, since improper mixture stability or poor compaction ability negatively affect the concrete homogeneity and quality. However, along with the increasing complexity of today’s concrete mixture compositions, concrete becomes more prone to failure regarding the casting process. Variable properties of the raw materials typically cause changing workability. The reasons can be found among others in scattering water contents, physical or chemical properties of the cement or varying environmental temperatures. Robustness in the delicately adjusted rheology, however, is of utmost importance for modern and future process technology, from sprayed concrete over pumpable concrete towards 3D-printing, with regard to the long-term strength, the function and the durability. Typically, material induced changes cannot be identified easily due to the complex interactions of concrete constituents. Therefore, a precise and prompt counteraction is impossible. However, it is known that the yield stress can be controlled by addition of supplementary superplasticizer or stabilising agent. In combination with computerized process observation tools that can rapidly interpret and react on changes in the rheology, it is therefore thinkable, that only these two admixture types can adjust the rheology steadily and permanently, regardless of the actual root cause for observed macroscopic rheology change. The presentation will firstly give a comprehensive overview of effects at the interface between pore solution, particles and hydrates, which affect the rheology of fresh concrete. Secondly, ways are recommended how the rheology can be actively manipulated before eventually computerized methods are demonstrated that help to actively and rapidly assess and counteract performance scatter during steady casting processes.
Additive manufacturing (AM) offers a range of novel applications. However, the manufacturing process is complex and the production of defect-free parts with high reliability and durability is still a challenge. Thermography is a valuable tool for process surveillance, especially in metal AM processes. The high process temperatures allow one to use cameras usually operating in the visible spectral range. Here, we compare the results of measurements during the manufacturing process of a commercial laser metal deposition setup using a mid-wavelength-IR camera with those from a visual spectrum high-speed camera with band pass filter in the near-IR range.
At present, to produce renewable energy offshore wind farms play an important role. The available space combined with the more valuable wind conditions make offshore locations very attractive for wind powered energy production. In Europe a significant number of offshore wind farms already exist, especially in the North and Baltic Sea. In future this trend will continue, and further offshore wind farms will be built. The majority of offshore wind turbines are mounted on steel foundation structures. Due to the high-cyclic loading by wind and waves fatigue stress plays a substantial role regarding structural safety.
Besides the consideration of fatigue within the design process, to monitor existing steel structures for potential fatigue cracks during their life time is a major topic and a challenge.
For the structures of the offshore wind turbines are large and partially under water effective reliable methods for the detection of fatigue cracks are required.
This contribution presents investigations on different crack detection methods applied at high-cycle fatigue tests on small-scale welded steel samples as well as on large-scale welded steel components. The tests were conducted at the BAM laboratories. For crack detection mainly three different methods were used and compared. The first method regards to the measurement of strain by conventionally strain gauges. Secondly, the crack luminescence was used as a new and effective optical method for surface monitoring. And finally, crack detection by pressure differentials of the inner and outer section of tubular steel elements was investigated. A comparison study will emphasize the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods and show which of the described methods is potentially more suitable for an application on real offshore wind structures.
Global energy consumption will increase in the future necessitating both fossil fuels and renewable energy choices - especially wind energy. Such high energy demand requires installation of offshore energy structures, rigs, platforms and towers, which are susceptible to adverse environmental conditions along with maintenances. Due to their large size and remote locations, cylindrical grouted joints are often adopted between substructure and foundation in these offshore platforms and wind structures such as monopiles. However, these connections are composite structures with exterior sleeve, interior pile and infill mortar. Degradation and settlements were reported inside similar connections, which were installed in last three decades. Besides, grouting in the offshore sites were proven difficult to obtain ideal load bearing capacity. In-situ loading conditions were also found to be affecting the failure mechanism inside such connections. This study aims at characterizing the nature of cracks generated in these grouted connections under both static and cyclic loading. Scaled grouted joints were manufactured using a novel reusable mold, and connections were loaded to failure to visualize the main failure patterns. An assessment between failure under these two types of load is drawn along with comparison to previously available literature.
Analyzing damages at concrete structures due to physical, chemical, and mechanical exposures need the application of innovative non-destructive testing methods that are able to trace spatial changes of microstructures. Here, the utility of three different crack detection methods for the analysis of computed tomograms of various cementitious building materials is evaluated. Due to the lack of reference samples and standardized image quality evaluation procedures, the results are compared with manually segmented reference data sets. A specific question is how automatic crack detection can be used for the quantitative characterization of damage processes, such as crack length and volume. The crack detection methods have been integrated into a scientific visualization system that allows displaying the tomography images as well as presenting the results.
For the determination of safety characteristics of gases, vapors and dusts different types of ignition sources are used in international standards and guidelines. Table 1 compares technical relevant ignition sources with their main features. The paper presents test results of a comparative calorimetric and visual study between four different types of ignition sources. The ignition procedures were analyzed visually with a high-speed camera and electric recordings. In addition to that, the influence of the electrode-orientation, -distance as well as ignition energy on the reproducibility of the exploding wire igniter was tested.
The exploding wire is already in use for standardized determination of safety characteristics of gases, first tests on the suitability of the exploding wire igniter for dust testing have been carried out by Scheid et al. Using the exploding wire, the ignition energy can be varied from 2 to 10 000 J (2 x 5 000 J) and thus it could be used for gases, vapors, dusts and hybrid mixtures. Moreover it can be used at high initial pressures and it is the only ignition source with an easily measurable ignition energy release. Furthermore, it does not introduce another chemical reaction into the system.
Finally, a proposal for a standard ignition source for explosion tests on hybrid mixtures is derived from the test results.
Combustion of peroxy-fuels
(2011)
The diffusion flames of organic peroxides exhibit quite different characteristics than hydrocarbons. What makes them interesting to study is their fast burning behaviour. As a result the flame temperature enhances and so does the thermal radiation. Due to all these they demand safe handling during processing. However, they can be utilised at several places in different industries where a fuel with fast burning, high temperature and intense radiation are desired. Some of the possibilities to use them as a main or supporting fuel in a wide range of industrial utilities are the major content of this paper.
Residual stresses and distortions in welded I-girders for steel construction are relevant when evaluating the stability of steel beams and column members. The application of high strength steels allows smaller wall thicknesses compared to conventional steels. Therefore, the risk of buckling has to be considered carefully. Due to the lack of knowledge concerning the residual stresses present after welding in high strength steel components conservative assumptions of their level and distribution is typically applied. In this study I-girders made of steels showing strengths of 355 MPa and 690 MPa were welded with varying heat input. Due to the dimension of the I-girders and the complex geometry the accessibility for residual stress measurement using X-ray diffraction was limited. Therefore, saw cutting accompanied by strain gauge measurement has been used to produce smaller sections appropriate to apply X-ray diffraction. The stress relaxation measured by strain gauges has been added to residual stresses determined by X-ray diffraction to obtain the original stress level and distribution before sectioning. The combination of both techniques can produce robust residual stress values. From practical point of view afford for strain gauge application can be limited to a number of measuring positions solely to record the global amount of stress relaxation. X-ray diffraction can be applied after sectioning to determine the residual stresses with sufficient spatial resolution.
Concrete structures are invaluable assets to a society and managing them efficiently and effectively can be supported by information gathered through structural health monitoring (SHM). In this paper, a combined approach based on passive, i.e., acoustic emission (AE), and active, i.e., ultrasonic stress wave (USW) monitoring techniques for application to concrete structures is proposed and evaluated. While AE and USW are based on the same underlying physics, i.e., wave motion in solids, they differ fundamentally with respect to the nature of the source. For the former, external stimuli such as mechanical loads or temperature cause the rapid release of energy from initially unknown locations. As a result, AE events are unique and cannot be repeated. For the latter, a known source at a known location is employed at a specified time. This approach is thus controlled and repeatable. It is
argued that a combination of these two techniques has the potential to provide a more comprehensive picture of ongoing fracture processes, damage progression, as well as slowly occurring aging and degradation mechanisms.
This combined approach does thus promise new opportunities to support condition assessment of concrete structures. After providing an overview and comparison of the two techniques, results, and observations from a full-scale laboratory experiment and an in-service bridge monitoring study are discussed to demonstrate the promise of the proposed combined monitoring approach. Finally, suggestions for further work are presented.
Modelling becomes more and more important in modern NDE. It is increasingly used to optimize techniques for complex applications, to support the preparation of written procedures, and for education purposes. To describe the complete chain of RT, the model includes simulating all necessary properties of X- or Gamma-ray sources, the interaction of photons with material with special attention to scattered radiation, the detection process, and the complete geometrical RT setup handling arbitrary parts or constructions. Depending on the given inspection problem and the influencing factors that should be addressed by the simulation, an appropriate physical model has to be chosen to describe the underlying interaction mechanisms. The simulator aRTist combines analytical and Monte Carlo methods to efficiently model the radiation transport such that transmission as well as scatter techniques can be modelled. In this contribution we Focus on Monte Carlo Simulation of scatter contribution within aRTist. Examples for RT/tomographic applications and back-scatter techniques are presented to demonstrate the usability of the presented simulation tool for a broad range of radiological applications.
Combined passive ultrasonic (US) stress wave [better known as acoustic emission (AE)] and active US stress wave monitoring has been shown to provide a more holistic picture of ongoing fracture processes, damage progression, as well as slowly occurring aging and degradation mechanisms in concrete structures. Traditionally, different data analysis techniques have been used to analyze the data generated from these two monitoring techniques. For passive US stress wave monitoring, waveform amplitudes, hit rates, source localization, and b-value analysis, among others, have been used to detect and locate cracking. On the other hand, amplitude tracking, magnitude squared coherence (MSC), and coda wave interferometry (CWI) are examples of analyses that have been employed for active US stress wave monitoring. In this paper, we explore some of these data analysis techniques and show where their respective applications and limitations might be. After providing an overview of the monitoring approach and the different data analysis techniques, results and observations from selected laboratory experiments are discussed. Finally, suggestions for further work are proposed.
Ultrasonic Coda Wave interferometry has the potential to detect minute changes in scattering materials like concrete. By permanently installing ultrasonic transducers in concrete, DFG Research unit CoDA aims to develop methods for concrete damage assessment in Germany's aging infrastructure. To test the methods developed in simulations and laboratory experiments on a large scale, we have implemented several ultrasonic transducers at the Gänstorbrücke Ulm, one of Germany's most monitored road bridges. Since fall 2020 we are monitoring parts of the center of the Bridge, as well as an abutment, and compare the results to the commercial monitoring system. All data is recorded with a self-made data collection device, the so-called W-Box, and analyzed with different coda wave-based algorithms to detect signal and volumetric velocity changes. The long-term measurements show that the influence of temperature changes on strains and therefore ultrasound velocity changes calculated with coda waves can be monitored. The capabilities and limitations of the coda wave-based monitoring system are tested in a controlled experiment. Static loading using a truck with varying loads at several positions allows the calibration of the system to improve the detectability of possibly damaging loads and changes induced by this loading. A map of velocity change analyzing data from this load experiment shows that the influence of load on the material and strain distribution can be detected with array measurements.
In this study, the ability of an electronic nose developed to analyze and monitor odor emissions from three poultry farms located in Meknes (Morocco) and Berlin (Germany) was evaluated. Indeed, the potentiality of the electronic nose (e-nose) to differentiate the concentration fractions of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and ethanol was investigated. Furthermore, the impact change of relative humidity values (from 15% to 67%) on the responses of the gas sensors was reported and revealed that the effect remained less than 0.6%. Furthermore, the relevant results confirmed that the developed e-nose system was able to perfectly classify and monitor the odorous air of poultry farms.
Characterization of multiphase metal matrix composites by means of CT and neutron diffraction
(2016)
The present study examines the relationship between the microstructure of multiphase metal matrix composites and their damage mechanisms. The matrix AlSi12CuMgNi was combined with 15% vol. Al₂O₃ (short fibers), and with 7% vol. Al₂O₃ + 15% vol. SiC (short fibers and whiskers, respectively). The experimental approach encompasses 3D microstructure characterization by means of computed tomography of samples (a) as-cast, (b) after heat treatment, and (c) after compression tests at room temperature. The volume fraction of different phases, their distribution, their orientation, and the presence of defects and damage are studied.
The influence of the addition of SiC particles on mechanical properties of composite was investigated. Phase-specific load partition analysis for samples with fiber plane parallel to load was performed by using neutron diffraction (ND) during in-situ compression. ND results show damage in the Si phase, while Al₂O₃ short fibers carry load without damage until failure. The computed tomography observations confirm the load partition analysis.
Applications of fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composites in modern industries are increasing due to their considerable advantages such as light weight and excellent mechanical properties. Accordingly, importance of operational safety of modern structures made of advanced composites by ensuring the material quality has led to increasing demands for development of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) systems. In the context of a European project entitled “Validated Inspection Techniques for Composites in Energy Applications” (VITCEA), the aim is to develop and validate traceable procedures for novel NDE techniques with contrasting damage detection capabilities in energy related applications such as wind and marine turbine blades, nacelles, oil and gas flexible risers. Accordingly, VITCEA focuses on optimization of ultrasonic tests (UTs) for quantitative defect detection and quality characterization of FRP structures. In this context, the present study describes the ultrasound field in heterogeneous composite materials. The theoretical predictions are compared with simulation results obtained from CIVA a software package dedicated to NDT simulations based on the asymptotic ray theory.
Active thermography is well suited for the detection of delaminations and cracks in façade elements like plaster and tiles. Not only artificial heating but also solar heating can be used if the adjustment of the façade and the weather conditions are suitable. Optical methods like laser scanners, photogrammetric methods and crack tracking sensors are providing geometrical 3D data which can be used for a 3D mapping of thermograms and for providing data with higher geometrical resolution. Thus, by the combination and fusion of these data, a comprehensive mapping and monitoring of damages of façade systems is possible.
Amongst various other NDT methods, within the EMRP-project
‘VITCEA’ active thermography is validated for testing of CFRP and
GFRP structures constructed for energy application. In this
contribution, the optical and thermal properties of CFRP and GFRP
reference defect artefact (RDA) and natural defects artefact (NDA)
test specimens are characterized. Different excitation techniques
and techniques for data analysis are compared for optimizing the
number of detected defects.
The African cement, concrete and construction business is growing at rapid pace. The cement sales are expected to grow rapidly until 2050. The number of newly built cement plants increases dramatically and in addition more cements are being imported from outside the continent, e.g. from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and China, driven by overcapacities in the countries of origin. This causes a high number of potentials and challenges at the same time. Newly built cement plants can operate directly at best technological state of the art and thus incorporate more sustainable technologies as well as produce new and more sustainable products such as cements blended with sustainable supplementary cementitious materials such as calcined clays, and industrial or agricultural by products. At the same time the new variety of binding agent as well as the international imports, which are driven by price considerations, make the cement market prone to quality scatter. This puts pressure on the quality control regulations and institutions to ensure safety of construction, healthy application, and environmental safety for the population. The paper presents possible solutions to build up the rapidly increasing African cement production more sustainably than in the rest of the world as well as the related challenges and obstacles that need to be overcome. Based on experiences with a series of pan-African cement testing laboratory proficiency schemes conclusions are made on technical, regulative and political level.
Laboratory test results are of vital importance for correctly classifying and labelling chemicals as “hazardous” as defined in the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS) / EC CLP Regulation or as “dangerous goods” as defined in the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. Interlaboratory tests play a decisive role in assessing the reliability of laboratory test results. Interlaboratory tests performed over the last 10 years have examined different laboratory test methods. After analysing the results of these interlaboratory tests, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. There is a need for improvement and validation for all laboratory test methods examined.
2. To avoid any discrepancy concerning the classification and labelling of chemicals, the use of validated laboratory test methods should be state of the art, with the results accompanied by the measurement uncertainty and (if applicable) the probability of incorrect classification.
This paper addresses the probability of correct/incorrect classification (for example, as dangerous goods) on the basis of the measurement deviation obtained from interlaboratory tests performed by the Centre for quality assurance for testing of dangerous goods and hazardous substances (CEQAT-DGHS) to validate laboratory test methods. This paper outlines typical results (e.g. so-called “Shark profiles” – the probability of incorrect classification as a function of the true value estimated from interlaboratory test data) as well as general conclusions and steps to be taken to guarantee that laboratory test results are fit for purpose and of high quality.
Active thermography is a fast, contactless and non-destructive technique that can be used to detect internal defects in different types of material. Volumetric irregularities such as the presence of pores in materials produced by the Additive Manufacturing processes can strongly affect the thermophysical and the mechanical properties of the final component.
In this work, an experimental investigation aimed at detecting different pores in a sample made of stainless AISI 316L produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) was carried out using pulsed thermography in reflection mode. The capability of the technique and the adopted setups in terms of geometrical and thermal resolution, acquisition frequency and energy Density of the heating source were assessed to discern two contiguous pores as well as to detect a single pore. Moreover, a quantitative indication about the minimum resolvable pore size among the available and analysed defects was provided. A powerful tool to assess the Limits and the opportunities of the pulsed technique in terms of detectability and localizability was provided by comparing active thermography results to Computed Tomography as well as a related Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate the pulsed heating transfer with Comsol.
Using an infrared camera for radiometric imaging allows the contactless temperature measurement of multiple surface pixels simultaneously. From the measured surface data, a sub-surface structure, embedded inside a sample or tissue, can be reconstructed and imaged when heated by an excitation light pulse. The main drawback in radiometric imaging is the degradation of the spatial resolution with increasing depth, which results in blurred images for deeper lying structures. We circumvent this degradation with blind structured illumination, combined with a non-linear joint sparsity reconstruction algorithm. The ground-breaking concept of super-resolution can be transferred from optics to thermographic imaging.
Today, in scientific events often a certain separation between researchers from laboratories with highly sophisticated equipment and those from less privileged laboratories can be observed. It is not an uncommon situation that results presented at conferences are rubbished or ridiculed because the investigator only used low-end analytical methods.
The assessment of the study is then biased based on the equipment, regardless of the actual quality of the study.
The work on Tribology, digitalisation, and the harmonised procedures developed in i-TRIBOMAT Open Innovation Testbed was presented. The project develops procedures and shares ideas on how to deal with characterisation techniques and provide services to end users in different places and locations, which is realised by adopting a common and widely agreed procedures. i-TRIBOMAT is active also via YouTube platform to enhance communication and spread the word amongst the interested parties and society.
To increase the competitiveness of jacket substructures compared to monopiles a changeover from an individual towards a serial jacket production based on automated manufactured tubular joints combined with standardized pipes has to be achieved. Therefore, this paper addresses fatigue tests of automatically welded tubular X-joints focusing on the location of the technical fatigue crack. The detected location of the technical crack is compared to numerical investigations predicting the most fatigue prone notch considering the structural stress approach as well as the notch stress approach. Besides, the welding process of the automated manufactured tubular X-joints is presented.
Tomography data obtained from transmission electron microscopes are especially attractive due to their unrivaled spatial resolution in the nanometer range or even less, but they require enormous efforts in sample preparation and suffer from a diverse accumulation of experimental restrictions, which unavoidably result in fundamental reconstruction artifacts. These restrictions refer to: partial opacity, a limited view (limited angle or missing wedge), very few angles (with respect to the detector size), limited to a region of interest (ROI; due to the sample size), variable angular increments as well as sample degradation due the interactions with the electron beam. An advanced version of the DIRECTT (Direct Iterative Reconstruction of Computed Tomography Trajectories) algorithm proves to cope with most of these severe deviations from ideal CT measuring conditions. However, careful data preprocessing is required in order to exploit the capabilities of the algorithm.
Nanometer sized Ruthenium catalyst particles for fuel cell applications are 3D imaged at a few Ångström resolution in order to estimate their partial free surface on carbon black supports, which rule the efficiency of the catalytic activity.
Comparisons of DIRECTT reconstructions to the conventional filtered back projection, prove the significant improvements.
Alkali-activated materials are ideal for the repair of concrete structures in harsh environmental conditions due to their high durability in chemically aggressive environments. However, slag-based mortars, in particular, are prone to shrinkage and associated cracks. In this respect, the application of steel fibres is one solution to reduce the formation of shrinkage induced cracks and to improve post cracking behaviour of these mortars. This study investigated the influence of two different types of steel fibres on the tensile properties of two alkali-activated mortars. Direct tensile tests and single fibre pull-outs were performed to analyse the determining failure modes both on macro and micro scale. Mechanical testing was accompanied by non-destructive testing methods such as digital image correlation and acoustic emission for a detailed analysis of the fracture process.
Nondestructive testing (NDT) methods are applicable in many ways for defect detection as well as optimization of packaging production processes. The visual inspection method is the technique which is mostly used, although neither the customer nor a skilled inspector may be aware of this.
Techniques like ultrasound for wall thickness measurement, the application of x-ray techniques or the use of dye penetrant techniques for crack detection are rather well known to the NDT family. However, acoustic emission techniques can also be helpful for the characterization of packaging materials. In this paper the employment of x-ray computer tomography (CT) for measurement of wall thickness in plastic jerrycans, especially on the edges, and its possible optimization of production processes will be discussed.
A comparison of the CT and ultrasonic examinations of wall thickness and the reliability of this measured data are also important points for the discussion, especially if some safety factors can be derived from the results.
The leakage test is also good for jerrycans, IBCs or other kinds of drums for the transportation and storage of dangerous goods. The disadvantage of this kind of test is that a lack of quality, e.g. wall thickness deterioration, cannot be detected if the wall thickness withstands the internal pressure. Therefore, especially for Quality assurance, the other, previously mentioned techniques are better for a statistical assessment of a batch. This paper is focused on the comparison of different NDT results with special emphasis on the large range of material mechanical properties.
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.
Industrial computed tomography (CT) today is an important method to analyze defects and to measure the geometry of technical products. The measurement capability of industrial CT often depends on the knowledge of the measurement errors being present. Only with this knowledge, effective corrections are possible by manufacturers, or adapted measurement procedures become possible for the customers. Thus, there is the strong need to have adequate reference standards both for the assessment of general dependencies and for the measurement of task-specific effects. Especially the latter are difficult to assess. This paper shows the application of a versatile dismountable workpiece-near reference body for the use with CT. The reference standard was made from a miniaturized cast aluminium (one-)cylinder head. It can be dismounted into four segments, each featuring reference geometries which enable a registration of CT measured and other reference datasets (e.g. from tactile CMM). The reference standard embodies complex freeform surfaces which are a challenging measurement task for CT and other sensors. Here the application of the reference standard is the study of the influence of material mixes. This is realized by adding pieces of other materials which disturb the mono-material measurement.
Results of the application of the reference standard are presented using data from industrial micro-CT systems and CMM reference data. A special emphasis is given on the workflow of the data processing and the data analysis.
The design of bridges often overlooks the vertical component of earthquakes or considers it of secondary importance, despite compelling evidence indicating specific structural damage caused by primary earthquake waves. Conversely, during the operational phase, the combined influence of ground motion and moving loads from vehicles can significantly impact the structural health monitoring (SHM) of bridges. This study aims to evaluate the simultaneous effect of vertical earthquake vibrations and moving vehicle loads on simply supported bridges. The research employs a practical methodology based on the eigenfunction expansion method to analyze change of deflection due to the effect of these concurrent forces under seven different earthquake records. It is shown that within a realistic range of vehicle mass and velocity, the average of changing the maximum deflection at the mid-span of the main beam (denoted as M_n) reaches up to 163% under various scenarios. Subsequently, the seismic parameters influencing this phenomenon are identified through a statistical analysis of set of 100 different earthquake records with unique features. A linear regression equation is presented to predict the M_n based on the earthquake specific properties. Additionally, to control the vertical vibration of bridge systems, a novel vibration suppression system utilizing steel pipe dampers is introduced, and its reliability is examined across a broad spectrum of bridge flexural rigidity. The results indicate that the system's efficiency depends on M_n and the soil type of the bridge construction, enabling a reduction in structural sections (up to 27%) while achieving the same maximum target deflection in the initial state. This efficiency leads to a more economical design solution, emphasizing the potential benefits of the proposed system for practical application.
Analyzing the reliability of non-destructive tests using the modular modell - a practical approach
(2016)
Non-destructive testing is an important tool to guarantee the safety of railway traffic.
The infrastructure with tracks, switches and sleepers is regularly tested, the
locomotives and wagons with their wheels, bogies and axles as well. Many years of experience and some events lead in Germany to a good practice in testing the railway components. Now, European authorities are drafting a system of common requirements and standards for the European Railway Market. The German practice combines an intensive training of the NDT-personnel including sufficient time for practical exercises with organizational measures of the companies, responsible for rolling stock and infrastructure. Through the example of UT-testing of railway axles it will be shown, how training and organizational measures influence the reliability of such testing.
Guided waves cover comparably long distances and thus allow for online structural health monitoring of safety relevant components, e.g. lightweight composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV) as used for the transportation of pressurised gases. Reliable non-destructive assessment of COPVs’ condition is not available yet due to their complex composite structure comprising a thin metal liner and a fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) overwrap. The conventional overload hydrostatic pressure testing used for the metal vessels is not suitable for the composite vessels, because it may damage the FRP overwrap reducing the service life of the COPV. Therefore, ISO and CEN defined a maximum service life of composite pressure vessels as of 15 to 20 years. To extend the COPVs’ service life and to ensure a safer usage a structural health monitoring system based on guided ultrasonic waves is to be developed.
In this contribution first results of guided waves propagation in a flat composite plate consisting of an aluminium layer firmly bonded to a carbon fibre reinforced plastic laminate are presented. Based on experimental results material properties of FRP are reconstructed by means of the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM).
The use of energetic materials as a main fuel in high temperature process
industries are not known to the scientific community as such. This paper
highlights some of the features and advantages of using organic peroxides
especially di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) in high temperature process industries.
The feasibility of using DTBP as a main or supporting fuel in process industries
have also been justified with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
simulations. For peroxides requirement of less fuel and air for the same amount
of heat flux has been shown. The resulted emission from the combustion of
DTBP is also discussed.
Modern and energy-efficient materials are essential for innovative designs for aerospace and automotive industries. Current technologies for rapid manufacturing such as additive manufacturing and liquid composite moulding by polymer Extrusion allow innovative ways of creating robust and lightweight constructions. Commercially available printing devices often use polylactide (PLA) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as raw material. Therefore, parameters like the infill ratio, influencing the ability to resist mechanical stress, may have a beneficial impact on the lifetime of components.
These manufacturing technologies require a good knowledge about materials and even adapted non-destructive testing technologies and methods. Airborne ultrasonic testing has beneficial advantages for testing those lightweight constructions. It is a contact-free testing method, which does not require a liquid couplant. Therefore, it allows fast test cycles without any unwanted alternations of the material properties due to interactions with any coupling liquid. This contribution deals with the characterisation of printed specimens based on PLA by using airborne ultrasound and presents the current edge of non-destructive testing and evaluation using airborne ultrasonic transducers. The specimens, manufactured by polymer extrusion, are printed as thin plates. The infill ratio, as well as the material thickness, were varied to model density imperfections with different geometric shapes and properties. For better understanding of the limits of airborne ultrasonic testing in transmission, we compared own-developed transducers based on different physical principles: on ferroelectrets, on the thermoacoustic effect, as well as a new type of transducers based on gas discharges.
Common air-coupled transducers for non-destructive testing consist of a piezocomposite material and several matching layers. Better acoustical matching to air is achieved by transducers based on charged cellular polypropylene (PP). This material has about hundred times lower acoustic impedance than any piezocomposite, having about the same piezoelectric coefficient. The piezoelectric properties of cellular PP are caused by the polarization of air cells. Alternatively, a ferroelectret receiver can be understood as a capacitive microphone with internal polarization creating permanent internal voltage. The sensitivity of the receiver can be increased by applying additional bias voltage. We present an ultrasonic receiver based on cellular PP including a high-voltage module providing bias voltage up to 2 kV. The application of bias voltage increased the signal by 12 to 15 dB with only 1 dB increase of the noise.
This receiver was combined with a cellular PP transmitter in through transmission to inspect several test specimens consisting of glass-fiber-reinforced polymer face sheets and a porous closed-cell PVC core. These test specimens were inspected before and after load. Fatigue cracks in the porous PVC core and some fatigue damage in the face sheets were detected. These test specimens were originally developed to emulate a rotor blade segment of a wind power plant. Similar composite materials are used in lightweight aircrafts for the general aviation. The other inspected test specimen was a composite consisted of glass-fiber-reinforced polymer face sheets and a wooden core. The structure of the wooden core could be detected only with cellular PP transducers, while commercial air-coupled transducers lacked the necessary sensitivity. Measured on a 4-mm thick carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer plate, cellular PP transducers with additional bias voltage achieved a 32 dB higher signal-to-noise ratio than commercial air-coupled transducers.
Highly sensitive air-coupled ultrasonic sensors are essential for various applications such as testing of composite materials. One of the major challenges for the development of air-coupled ultrasonic sensors is the impedance matching to air. With a lower acoustic impedance than the usual piezoelectric materials, charged cellular polypropylene film (cPP) offers better matching to air with a similar piezoelectric coefficient. The piezoelectric behaviour demonstrated by cPP comes from polarized air cells that create a permanent internal voltage. The sensitivity of the sensor varies with the application of an additional DC bias voltage. Thus, this work presents a cPP ultrasonic sensor with an improvement of up to 15 ± 1 dB on the signal-to-noise ratio.
Air-coupled ultrasound (ACU) is increasingly used for automated and contactless inspection of large-scale composite structures as well as for non-destructive testing (NDT) of water-sensitive or porous materials. The major challenge to overcome using ACU in NDT is the enormous loss of ultrasonic energy at each solid-air interface caused by the high acoustic impedance mismatch. Resonant low-frequency piezoceramic transducers are specially designed to achieve high sound pressure levels. For an expanded use of this technique, however, the spatial resolution needs to be increased.
Recent studies of our collaborative research group demonstrated the successful application of a resonance-free, highly sensitive receiver that uses a Fabry-Pérot etalon instead of piezoceramic materials or membranes. However, to reach the full potential of this broadband small-aperture optical microphone, novel transmitter concepts have to be developed and evaluated for advanced NDT applications.
Different types of transmitter were tested in combination with the optical microphone acting as receiver and they were compared to conventional piezoceramic transducers in through-transmission mode. Monolithic carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) and CFRP sandwich structures containing different defect types were inspected. Presented results are processed as C-scan images and further evaluated for spatial resolution, signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity of each measurement setup. Novel transmitter concepts, such as ferroelectret and thermoacoustic emitters, show promising findings with a considerably improved time and spatial resolution for ACU-NDT.
Advanced ultrasonic imaging for concrete: Alternative imaging conditions for reverse time migration
(2018)
Ultrasound echo is a widely used NDT technique for determining the internal geometry of structures. Reverse-time migration (RTM) has been recently introduced to NDT applications, as an imaging method for ultrasound data, to overcome some of the limitations (e.g. imaging steeply dipping reflector) experienced by the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT), the most commonly used imaging algorithm for these measurements.
The standard implementation of RTM also experiences some drawbacks caused by its imaging condition, which is based on the zero-lag of the cross-correlation between source and receiver wavefields and generates high-amplitude low-frequency artifacts. Three alternative imaging conditions, developed for seismic data applications, were tested for their ability to provide better images than the standard cross-correlation: illumination compensation, deconvolution and wavefield decomposition. A polyamide specimen was chosen for the simulation of a synthetic experiment and for real data acquisition. The migrations of both synthetic and real data were performed with the software Madagascar. The illumination imaging condition was able to reduce the low-frequency noise and had a good performance in terms of computing time. The deconvolution improved the resolution in the synthetic tests, but did not showed such benefit for the real experiments. Finally, as for the wavefield decomposition, although it presented some advantages in terms of attenuating the low-frequency noise and some unwanted reflections, it was not able to image the internal structure of the polyamide as well as the cross-correlation did. Suggestions on how to improve the cost-effectiveness of the implementation of the deconvolution and wavefield decomposition were presented, as well as possible investigations that could be carried out in the future, in order to obtain better results with those two imaging conditions.
Additively manufactured test specimens made of polyamide 12 (PA 12) by Laser Sintering (LS) as well as of acrylnitril-butadien-styrol (ABS) by Fused Layer Modeling (FLM), were tested with active thermography. For this, two different excitation methods (flash and impulse excitation) were used and compared, regarding the suitability for the detection of constructed and imprinted defects. To increase the quality of the thermograms, data processing methods like thermal signal reconstruction (TSR) and Fourier-Transformation were applied. Furthermore, the long-term stability of the probes towards environmental stress, like UV-radiation, heat, water contact and frost is being investigated in the presented project with artificial weathering tests.
Acoustic-structure interaction in the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method for primsatic geometries
(2019)
Due to the short wavelength compared to the dimensions of the structure, the simulation of ultrasonic waves is still a challenging task. A numerical method well suited for this purpose is the semi-analytical Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM). When applying this method, only the boundary of a computational domain is discretized using finite elements, while the interior is described by an analytical ansatz. Hence, the number of degrees of freedom is reduced significantly compared to the classical Finite Element Method (FEM).
In recent years, a particular formulation of the SBFEM for the simulation of ultrasonic guided waves was developed. The method constitutes an efficient algorithm for prismatic structures of arbitrary length, such as plates, pipes, or beams. Wave propagation phenomena in such structures can be modeled for isotropic and anisotropic inhomogeneous waveguides. Even though the method is an efficient tool for the simulation of guided waves in solid media, a reliable model for the simulation of acoustic wave propagation in fluids as well as acoustic-structure interaction in terms of SBFEM is still missing. In principle, the fluid can be described by a displacement-based formulation and thus be implemented in existing SBFEM algorithms for solid bodies. However, due to the discretization with classical finite elements, spurious modes occur, which cannot be separated from the physical modes straightforwardly. The spurious modes can be suppressed using a penalty parameter. Although very accurate results were achieved for some problems, this procedure has been proven unreliable for certain cases.
For this reason, we propose a different approach in this contribution. We employ a pressure model to simulate the acoustic behavior of fluids. The implementation of the pressure model results in a higher effort due to the necessity of incorporating coupling terms, but it presents a stable alternative without spurious modes. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated in comparison with analytical solutions and results obtained using the FEM.