0000000000270401
AUTHOR
B. Boro Djordjevic
Non-contact ultrasonic inspection of skin/core bond in honeycomb with lamb waves
The assessment of skin/core bond in honeycomb samples was carried out by a bistatic ultrasonic non-contact system. Lamb waves were generated by a Nd:YAG pulsed laser and detected by an air-coupled capacitance transducer located in pitch-catch configuration. Periodically spaced line sources, generated on the sample surface using a four element lenticular array, allowed generation of narrow-band directional Lamb waves. Changes in amplitude of the transmitted signal permitted detection of skin/core disbonds.
Laser-Generated Acoustic Signal Interaction with Surface Flaws on Rail Wheels
Long- and short-range acoustic-signal interaction with surface-breaking cracks and geometric boundaries of the rail-wheel tread area are presented in this article. Ultrasonic signals are generated using a laser-line source of varying length and distance from a crack and are detected with a 1-MHz contact transducer to map the sound field behind the crack in the near, intermediate, and far fields of the insonified region. The factors that affect the behavior of a laser-generated surface acoustic wave propagating along the tread area of a rail wheel are discussed. A signal normalization method is proposed to help in sensing the presence of a crack from the transmitted signal unaffected by the …
Laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique for dynamic railroad inspection applications
The Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic Technique (LAHUT) combines laser generation with air-coupled detection of ultrasound. The technique is non-contact and has the characteristic of operating from remote distances. Acoustic wave laser-generation apparatus can be metres away from the interrogated surface, while air-coupled detection stand-off can be on the order of several centimetres. The technique has the unique capability of interrogating structural materials in their true industrial environment. Dynamic tests are performed on parts with complex geometry, limited accessibility and curved surfaces. Also, dark and rough finish surfaces, which significantly reduce the efficiency of optical detect…
Quantitative subsurface defect detection in composite materials using a non-contact ultrasonic system
The results of an experimental study conducted to detect subsurface defects in a thick Gr/PPS composite test sample using a noncontact ultrasonic system are presented. Surface waves are generated by a pulsed laser and detected by an air-coupled capacitance transducer. By controlling the surface wave wavelength through a shadow mask, it is possible to control surface wave penetration depth in the sample. Surface wave peak-to-peak amplitude is related to the near-surface material condition. Results indicate that signal amplitude decreases as the width of the defect increases and an approximately linear relation can be deduced.
Generation of narrowband antisymmetric lamb waves using a formed laser source in the ablative regime
A formed laser source, using a four-element lenticular array, is used in the ablative regime to generate select, narrowband, acoustic plate waves. The arrangement of the array produces acoustical signals that have frequencies compatible with the response of the broadband capacitive air-coupled transducer used in this study. A simplified concept is presented to explain the effect of a line array source on the frequency content of acoustic waves. The analytical model for a point pulse surface displacement is derived from the point load solution to Lamb's problem. The point pulse displacement elements of a line array source are summed mathematically, taking into account all applicable propagat…
Proof of concept of wayside railroad wheel inspection using a laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique
Non-destructive inspection of railroad wheels is performed in maintenance shops, where wheels are removed and inspected individually. No technique is yet available to the railroad industry to perform wayside inspections of wheels on a moving train. The characteristics of laser and air-coupled ultrasound are discussed to justify the use of a laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique. Laser generation of ultrasound is combined with air-coupled detection to provide a flexible non-contact and remote technique that would enable the railroad industry to perform wayside inspections of moving railroad wheels. The present paper describes Proof of Concept set-up and results of the experiments performed a…
Dynamic railroad inspection using the laser-air hybrid ultrasonic technique
Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic Technique (LAHUT) combines laser generation with air-coupled detection of ultrasound. The technique is non-contact and has the characteristic of operating from remote distances. Acoustic wave laser-generation apparatus can be metres away from the interrogated surface while air-coupled detection standoff can be on the order of several centimetres. The technique has the unique capability of interrogating structural materials in their true industrial environment. Dynamic tests are performed on parts with complex geometry, limited accessibility and curved surfaces. Also, dark and rough finish surfaces, which significantly reduce the efficiency of optical detection te…
Ultrasonic detection by photo-EMF sensor and by wideband air-coupled transducer
Two non-contact remote ultrasonic detection systems are compared. The first consists of a continuous wave (CW) Nd:YVO4 laser operating at 532 nm used in conjunction with a photo-induced electromotive-force (EMF) sensor. The second system employs an air-coupled capacitance transducer that has a bandwidth from 100 kHz up to 2 MHz. Both systems exhibit higher sensitivity to out-of-plane than in-plane measurements of stress wave signals. Ultrasound generation is carried out by an Nd:YAG pulsed laser at 532 nm in the thermoelastic regime in a 1.6 mm aluminum plate. A0 Lamb mode is generated at frequency-thickness product with strong out-of-plane displacements. Ultrasonic waveforms acquired are r…