Acoustography is a full-field ultrasonic imaging process where a high resolution 2D acousto-optic sensor based on liquid crystal technology is employed to directly convert the ultrasound into a visual image in near real time. Unprocessed acoustography images typically suffer from non-uniformity due to spatial variations in the optical brightness response of the acousto-optic sensor field to ultrasonic intensity. Additionally, dynamic range of the acousto-optic sensor is limited to approximately 20 to 30 db. The nonuniformity and dynamic range limitation can result in difficulty in acoustography image interpretation, impracticality for large field application, and difficulty for use on samples having a wide range of attenuation. The approach of this ongoing study is to apply various methodologies that address these limitations in hopes of extending the usefulness and applications of acoustoography for nondestructive testing. This article shows initial results of methodologies developed to correct for image non-uniformity and explains the proposed approach to extend the dynamic range of acoustography images.
This paper presents the results of a comparison study of three ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods applied to polymer matrix composite (PMC) specimens subjected to impact damage. Samples mainly consisted of various thicknesses of graphite/epoxy coupon panels impacted with various energy levels. Traditional pulse-echo and through transmission ultrasonic c-scan techniques were applied to impacted samples and served as the basis for comparison. Specimens were then inspected using acoustography, a large field ultrasonic inspection technique that is analogous to real-time X-ray imaging. Acoustography utilizes a unique, wide area two-dimensional (2-D) detector, called an acousto-optic (AO) sensor, to directly convert ultrasound into visual images; much like an image intensifier in real-time radiography. Finally, a newly developed guided wave scanning system was utilized to inspect the same set of samples. This system uses two transducers in a pitch catch configuration to examine the total (multi-mode) ultrasonic response in its inspection analysis. Several time- and frequency-domain parameters are calculated from the ultrasonic guided wave signal at each scan location to form images. Results are presented for all of the methods demonstrating each technique's detection capabilities and highlighting their advantages and disadvantages.
A guided wave scanning system was developed and is being refined at NASA Glenn Research Center. Instead of isolating a single Lamb wave mode, this guided wave scan system utilizes a multi-mode ultrasonic response consisting of multiple, overlapping wave modes. Various time and frequency related parameters are calculated from the time domain waveform at each scan location to create images. In order to optimize the performance of the guided wave scanning device, many experimental conditions need to be considered. In this study, the effects of the transducer contact force, dry couplant pad configuration, and scan step size on the repeatability of the guided wave parameters and the intensity and quality of the ultrasonic waveform were investigated. Based on the results, an optimal couplant configuration was recommended for future use with the scanning device.
Acousto-ultrasonics (AU) is a NDE technique that utilizes two ultrasonic transducers to interrogate the condition of a test specimen. The sending transducer introduces an ultrasonic pulse at a point on the surface of the specimen while a receiving transducer detects the signal after it has passed through the material. The aim of the method is to correlate certain parameters of the detected waveform to characteristics of the material between the two transducers. The waveform parameter of interest is the attenuation due to internal damping for which information is being garnered from the frequency domain. The parameters used to indirectly quantify the attenuation are the ultrasonic decay rate as well as various moments of the frequency power spectrum. For the most part, AU is used to gage the damage state of materials subjected to various mechanical or environmental loads. The AU technique has been applied to polymer matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, metal matrix composites as well as metallic alloys. Historically, AU has been a point by point, manual technique with waveforms collected at discrete locations and post-processed. Data collection and analysis of this type limits the amount of detail that can be obtained. Also, the manual movement of the sensors is prone to user error and is time consuming. This paper discusses an automated AU scanning system recently developed and assembled at NASA Glenn Research Center. The paper will include a description of the hardware and software systems as well as the techniques for data reduction and presentation. In order to demonstrate the system capabilities, AU scan results for a SiC/SiC composite panel are presented.
Most single grains in cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) grown by the high-pressure Bridgman (HPB) technique contain multiple twin boundaries. As a consequence, twin boundaries are one of the most common macroscopic material defects found in large area (400 to 700 mm2) CdZnTe specimens obtained from HPB ingots. Due to the prevalence of twin boundaries, understanding their effect on detector performance is key to the material selection process. Twin boundaries in several 2 mm thick large area specimens were first documented using infrared transmission imaging. These specimens were then fabricated into either 2mm pixel or planar detectors in order to examine the effect of the twin boundaries on detector performance. Preliminary results show that twin boundaries, which are decorated with tellurium inclusions, produce a reduction in detector efficiency and a degradation in resolution. The extent of the degradation appears to be a function of the density of tellurium inclusions.
This article describes a single transducer ultrasonic imaging method based on ultrasonic velocity measurement that eliminates the effect of plate thickness variation in the image, i.e. the method is thickness-independent. The method, currently being commercialized under a cooperative agreement between NASA Lewis Research Center and Sonix, Inc., thus isolates ultrasonic variations due to material microstructure. Its use can result in significant cost savings because the ultrasonic image can be interpreted correctly without the need for precision thickness machining during nondestructive evaluation stages of material development. Images obtained using the thickness-independent methodology are compared with apparent velocity maps and c- scan echo peak amplitude images for monolithic ceramic and metal matrix composite materials having thickness and microstructural variations. It was found that he thickness- independent ultrasonic images reveal and quantify correctly areas of global microstructural variation due to the elimination of thickness effects.
The main objective of this study is the development of an embedded fiber optic sensor for testing ceramic composites in a very high temperature environment. The sensing element is an optical grade sapphire fiber operating on the principle of spatial modulation in a multimode waveguide. In order to employ this waveguide as a stress sensor, optomechanical testing has been performed to examine the optical response to external stresses. Several tests, including tension, micro-bending, and lateral compression, are in progress. These tests will establish the basis for using embedded optical sensors for characterization of ceramic composites in real environment. The principles of operation and experimental investigations on the microbending tests are presented in this paper. The results show that the developed sensor can be applied for stress monitoring as well as displacement measurements in a very high temperature environment.
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