• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.415-429
• /
• 2002

Various modeling techniques for ultrasonic wave propagation and scattering problems in finite solid media are presented. Elastodynamic boundary value problems in inhomogeneous multi-layered plate-like structures are set up for modal analysis of guided wave propagation and numerically solved to obtain dispersion curves which show propagation characteristics of guided waves. As a powerful modeling tool to overcome such numerical difficulties in wave scattering problems as the geometrical complexity and mode conversion, the Boundary Element Method(BEM) is introduced and is combined with the normal mode expansion technique to develop the hybrid BEM, an efficient technique for modeling multi-mode conversion of guided wave scattering problems.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.142-150
• /
• 2004

A preliminary study of the behavior of ultrasonic guided wave mode in a pipe using a comb transducer for maintenance inspection of power plant facilities has been verified experimentally. The mode identification has been carried out in a pipe using the time-frequency analysis methods such as the wavelet transform(WT) and the short time Fourier transform (STFT), compared with theoretically calculated group velocity dispersion curves for longitudinal and flexural modes. The results are in good agreement with analytical predictions and show the effectiveness of using the time-frequency analysis method to identify the individual modes. It was found out that the longitudinal mode(0,1) is less affected by mode conversion compared with the other modes. Therefore, L(0,1) is selected as an optimal mode for the evaluation of the surface defect in a pipe.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.586-590
• /
• 2009

Poisson's ratio, one of elastic constants of elastic solids, has not attracted attention due to its narrow range and difficult measurement. Transverse wave velocity as well as longitudinal wave velocity should be measured for nondestructive measurement of Poisson's ratio. Rigid couplants for transverse wave is one of obstacle for scanning over specimen. In the present work, a novel measurement of Poisson's ratio distribution was applied. Immersion method was employed for the scanning over the specimen. Echo signals of normal beam longitudinal wave were collected, and transverse wave modes generated by mode conversion were identified. From transit time of longitudinal and transverse waves, Poisson's ratio was determined without the information of specimen thickness. Poisson's ratio distribution of the carbon steel weldment was mapped. Heat affected zone of the weldment was clearly distinguished from base and filler metals.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.334-341
• /
• 2003

When the pressure tubes(f are in contact with the calandria tube(CT) in the pressurized heavy water reactor(PHWR), the temperature difference between inner and outer wall of W results in a thermal diffusion of hydrogen (deuterium) and hydride blisters are formed on the outer surface of PT. Because the hydride blisters and zirconium matrix are acoustically continuous, it is not easy to distinguish the blisters from the matrix with conventional ultrasonic method. An ultrasonic velocity ratio method was developed to detect small hydride blisters on the zirconium pressure tube. Hydride blisters were grown in the PT specimen using a steady state thermal diffusion device. The flight times of longitudinal echo and reflected shear echo from the outer surface were measured accurately. The velocity ratio of the longitudinal wave to the shear wave was calculated and displayed using contour plot. Compared to the conventional flight time method of longitudinal wave, the velocity ratio method shows superior sensitivity to detect smaller blisters as well as better images for the blister shapes. Detectable limit of the outer shape of the hydride blisters was conservatively estimated as $500{\mu}m$, with the same specifications of ultrasonic transducer used in the actual PHWR pressure tube inspection.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.314-321
• /
• 2000

A gap between a $Al_2O_3/Fe$ thermite and lower head vessel is formed in the lower-plenum arrested vessel attack(LAVA) experiment which is the 1st phase study of simulation of naturally arrested vessel attack in vessel(SONATA-IV). The gap measurement using a conventional ultrasonic method would be lack of a reliability due to the structure complexity and the metallurgical grain size change of the lower head HAZ occurred by a thermite $Al_2O_3/Fe$ melt or a $Al_2O_3$ melt at $2300^{\circ}C$. The grain echoes having false signals and lower S/N ratio signals are detected due to a multiple scattering, a mode conversion and an attenuation of a ultrasonic resulted from at the interface of increased grain size zone. In this test, the signals pattern was classified to understand the behavior of the ultrasonic in a multi-layer specimen of solid-liquid-solid of assuming that the thermite and the lower head vessel is immersed. The polarity threshold algorithm of frequency diversity gives us the enhancement about 6dB of the ratio S/N.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.331-340
• /
• 2004

Deployment of an advanced on-line monitoring of the component integrity offers a prospect of improved performance, enhanced safety, and reduced overall cost for nuclear power plants. Ultrasonic guided waves have been known as one of the promising techniques that could be utilized for on-line monitoring. The present work is aimed at developing a new method for on-line monitoring of the pipes during the operation period of nuclear power plants. For this purpose, the steam generator (S/G) tube was selected as an object of tile experiment. Dispersion corves and the incident angles corresponding to the specific modes were calculated for the S/G tube. The modes of guided waves were identified by the time-frequency diagrams obtained by the short time Fourier transform. It was experimentally confirmed that there was no mode conversion when the ultrasonic guided waves passed over the curved region of the S/G tube. An optimum mode of guided wave for the S/G tube was suggested and verified by the experiment.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.445-461
• /
• 2019

The ultrasonic guided wave-based technique has become one of the most promising methods in non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring, because of its advantages of large area inspection, evaluating inaccessible areas on the structure and high sensitivity to small damage. To further advance the development of damage detection technologies using ultrasonic guided waves for the inspection of welded components in structures, the transmission characteristics of the ultrasonic guided waves propagating through welded joints with various types of defects or damage in steel plates are studied and presented in this paper. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model considering the different material properties of the mild steel, high strength steel and austenitic stainless steel plates and their corresponding welded joints as well as the interaction condition of the steel plate and welded joint, is developed. The FE model is validated against analytical solutions and experimental results reported in the literature and is demonstrated to be capable of providing a reliable prediction on the features of ultrasonic guided wave propagating through steel plates with welded joints and interacting with defects. Mode conversion and scattering analysis of guided waves transmitted through the different types of weld defects in steel plates are performed by using the validated FE model. Parametric studies are undertaken to elucidate the effects of several basic parameters for various types of weld defects on the transmission performance of guided waves. The findings of this research can provide a better understanding of the transmission behaviour of ultrasonic guided waves propagating through welded joints with defects. The method could be used for improving the performance of guided wave damage detection methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.138-149
• /
• 2000

Various modeling techniques for ultrasonic wave propagation and scattering problems in finite solid media are presented. Elastodynamic boundary value problems in inhomogeneous multi-layered plate-like structures are set up for modal analysis of guided wave propagation and numerically solved to obtain dispersion curves which show propagation characteristics of guided waves. As a powerful modeling tool to overcome such numerical difficulties in wave scattering problems as the geometrical complexity and mode conversion, the Boundary Element Method(BEM) is introduced and is combined with the normal mode expansion technique to develop the hybrid BEM, an efficient technique for modeling multi mode conversion of guided wave scattering problems. Time dependent wave forms are obtained through the inverse Fourier transformation of the numerical solutions in the frequency domain. 3D BEM program development is underway to model more practical ultrasonic wave signals. Some encouraging numerical results have recently been obtained in comparison with the analytical solutions for wave propagation in a bar subjected to time harmonic longitudinal excitation. It is expected that the presented modeling techniques for elastic wave propagation and scattering can be applied to establish quantitative nondestructive evaluation techniques in various ways.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.234-240
• /
• 1997

We studied the resolution enhancement of a novel scanning laser acoustic microscope (SLAM) using transverse waves. Mode conversion of the ultrasonic wave takes place at the liquid-solid interface and some energy of the insonifying longitudinal waves in the water will convert to transverse wave energy within the solid specimen. The resolution of SLAM depends on the size of detecting laser spot and the wavelength of the insonifying ultrasonic waves. Science the wavelength of the transverse wave is shorter than that of the longitudinal wave, we are able to achieve the high resolution by using transverse waves. In order to operate SLAM in the transverse wave mode, we made wedge for changing the incident angle. Our experimental results with model 2140 SLAM and an aluminum specimen showed higher contrast of the SLAM image in the transverse wave mode than that in the longitudinal wave mode.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.249-257
• /
• 2013

This study newly presents a synthetic phase tuning technique to suppress the unwanted torsional mode while enhancing the desired torsional mode in a pipe. Specifically, we aim at the enhancement of the first torsional mode and the suppression of the undesired, second torsional mode. Earlier efforts were to enhance the desired wave mode only in the hope that the enhancement results in the suppression of the unwanted wave mode. Unlike these efforts, the suggested technique makes the complete cancellation of the unwanted wave mode but it is shown to enhance the desired first mode for torsional wave problems. In the present study, the synthetic phase tuning is developed for the cancellation of the unwanted wave mode, meaning that the number of necessary experimental equipments is reduced. Simulation and experiment were carried out to check the effectiveness of the proposed method. As an application of the suggested technique, we investigated the reflection and mode conversion characteristics of the first torsional mode according to the step thickness variation in a stepped pipe.