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Attenuation of ultrasonic signals in concrete has the potential to carry much information about the microstructure of the material. In this work a series of concrete specimens of varying porosities and pore size distributions were internally imaged with x-ray computed tomography (CT), and then subsequently examined with throughtransmission ultrasound. The CT images were used to quantify both capillary porosity of cement paste as well as internal interfaces that are likely to produce elastic wave scattering. Ultrasound signals were represented as a diffusion process such that absorption and scattering attenuation could be isolated. As implemented, the diffusion model was a poor predictor of capillary porosity, while diffusivity was a reasonable predictor of scattering interfaces. Diffusivity was found to scale extremely well with small scale porosity, which made it a good predictor of compressive strength.
This paper describes a new ultrasonic measuring device called “W-Box”. It was developed based on the requirements of the DFG Forschergruppe (research unit) CoDA for a portable device for monitoring of concrete specimens, models and actual structures using embedded ultrasonic transducers as well as temperature and humidity sensors. The W-Box can send ultrasonic pulses with a variable frequency of 50–100 kHz to one selectable transducer and records signals from up to 75 multiplexed channels with a sample rate of 1 MHz and a resolution of 14 bits. In addition, it measures temperature and humidity with high accuracy, adjustable amplification, restarts automatically after a power failure and can be fully controlled remotely. The measured data are automatically stored locally on-site data quality checks and transferred to remote servers. The comparison of the W-Box with a laboratory setup using commercial devices proves that it is equally reliable and precise, at much lower cost. The W-Box also shows that their measurement capacities, with the used embedded ultrasonic transducers, can reach above 6 m in concrete.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seismic interferometry (SI) deals either with the sensible detection of changes in the subsurface or with the reconstruction of virtual signals between two receivers by crosscorrelation of signals from diffuse sources. These concepts can be applied in NDT in civil engineering for various purposes, e. g. to detect changes in bridges. Here it is demonstrated using data from a reference structure on our test site. Practical applications can be expected in the very near future.
Elastic wave propagation of ultrasound in bituminous road surfaces - simulations and measurements
(2015)
Maintenance costs of road infrastructure are increasing steadily. The main cause of this is the nearly exponential increase of traffic during the last decades. Adverse environmental impacts on infrastructure get more and more important as well. Therefore, it is important to determine how limited financial resources can be directed with an optimum pay-out. Often a decision has to be made whether existing structures have to be rebuilt or repaired based on the condition of the structures. The present study takes first steps towards the usage of low-frequency ultrasound as a tool to evaluate the road condition. The overall aim is to derive a prediction model for future road conditions. In order to better understand and interpret recorded wave fields simulations of elastic wave propagation in layered and scattering road models have been performed. The study combined investigations in the laboratory with field measurements. In a series of extensive laboratory tests with different asphalt mixtures characteristic wave properties have been derived. Travel time (resp. velocity) as important material parameter has been investigated for different wave types, different centre frequencies and at various temperatures. An investigation of the directivity of wave radiation in the heterogeneous asphalt bodies led to an estimate of the related disturbing influences. Based on the laboratory results field measurements were performed on a real road and the records were processed to identify layers, propagation speeds and attenuation. The results were verified by a series of simulations.
Entwicklung eines luftgekoppelten Ultraschall-Echo-Prüfverfahrens mittels fluidischer Anregung
(2019)
In vielen technischen Bereichen werden Ultraschallverfahren zur zer-störungsfreien Werkstoffprüfung eingesetzt. Dabei wird ein Schallpuls von einem Prüfkopf in ein Prüfobjekt eingebracht. Der Puls kann unter anderem durch Membra-nen oder Piezoelemente erzeugt werden und wird in der Regel durch direkten Kontakt oder über ein Koppelmittel an das Objekt übertragen. Luftgekoppelter Ultraschall spielt in kommerziellen Anwendungen bisher eine untergeordnete Rolle, da die Dif-ferenz der akustischen Impedanzen von Luft und Festkörpern immense Verluste beim Übergang des Schallsignals hervorruft.
In diesem Beitrag soll ein neuartiges Anregungsprinzip vorgestellt werden, mit dem ein Großteil dieser Verluste vermieden wird. Anstelle eines Festkörpers soll mit Hilfe einer fluidischen Düse Druckluft zur Signalerzeugung eingesetzt werden. In die-ser Düse wird eine selbsterhaltende Strömungsinstabilität erzeugt, die einen Schall-puls von bis zu 100 kHz hervorruft, sodass der Impedanzverlust in die Umgebungsluft entfällt. Da die charakteristische Frequenz eines fluidisch generierten Pulses maßgeb-lich von der Bauform der Düse und dem anliegenden Druck abhängt, lässt sich mittels einer geeigneten Strömungsregelung ein breiter Frequenzbereich zur Abtastung nut-zen. Die so emittierten Pulse werden auf das Prüfobjekt gerichtet und die reflektierten Signale mit einem Laservibrometer an der Oberfläche des Objekts im Echo-Verfahren abgetastet. Von drei signalmindernden Materialübergängen bei gewöhnlichem luftge-koppeltem Ultraschall bleibt in dem hier vorgeschlagenen Messystem lediglich die Grenzfläche von Luft zu Prüfkörper, sodass eine höhere Signalausbeute als bisher er-wartet werden kann.
The retroreflective corner echo is used, for example, in ultrasonic non-destructive testing of metals to find fatigue cracks in tubes or shafts. If the much weaker crack tip signal is additionally detected, the crack length can also be determined. A corner reflection occurs in cases of surface breaking cracks with predominantly perpendicular orientation to the surface. The intensity of the corner reflection depends on the angle of incidence and on the ultrasonic wave mode used. For the reliable detection of vertical surface breaking cracks in metals, transversal waves are commonly used, which propagate at an angle of 37° to 53° to the inspection surface. As shown in this contribution, the wide spread low frequency ultrasonic arrays with dry point contact sources available for ultrasonic testing of concrete also allow to receive corner echoes. These devices generate transversal waves in concrete structures with a large divergence of the sound field. A series of experiments was carried out with such dry point contact arrays on concrete specimens with artificial test defects and controlled induced cracks of different depths. The ultrasonic time-of-flight signals were recorded, exported and reconstructed utilising the SAFT (Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique) algorithm. The SAFT reconstruction parameters were adjusted to visualize the corner echo indication. As will be shown, with this targeted processing, the reproducible detection of surface breaking cracks in concrete is possible. The retroreflective corner echo can thus be exploited in civil engineering for non-destructive inspection of concrete.