Dynamic behavior of a zero-group velocity guided mode in rail structures.

Important characteristics of a zero-group velocity (ZGV) mode in a standard rail are investigated through numerical simulation and experiment. First, the semi-analytical finite element analysis is implemented to compute dispersion curves for the rail structure and the first ZGV point is identified. Backward waves are identified through opposing senses of group and phase velocities. Next, a time-dependent finite element model is used to understand the dynamic response of the rail. Finally, experimental measurements confirm that ZGV modes in rail structures are formed through interferences between two opposite-traveling waves, which is analogous to the S1-S2b ZGV Lamb mode in plate structures.

Air-coupled ultrasonic diffuse-wave techniques to evaluate distributed cracking damage in concrete.

In this study, we investigated the suitability of applying air-coupled ultrasonic diffuse-wave techniques to concrete structures for the evaluation of arbitrarily distributed micro-cracking damage. Air-coupled test results were compared with those obtained using a conventional full-contact measurement system. Three different micro-cracking damage levels were simulated by embedding varying amounts of low-stiffness polypropylene fibers in concrete samples. Two principal diffuse-wave parameters, diffusivity and dissipation, were determined using air-coupled and full-contact test configurations. Wave frequencies of 300-600 kHz were employed, which set up significant ultrasonic scattering owing to the heterogeneous characteristics of concrete components (e.g., aggregates, micro-cracks expressed by fibers, and pores). In addition, the sensitivities of diffusivity and dissipation to the number of measurement locations were examined. The results demonstrated that the air-coupled method can provide an equivalent reliability to the full-contact method, allowing a much faster and flexible data collection. The spatial averaging of 20 arbitrarily selected data (measured at different locations) yielded sufficiently accurate diffuse-wave parameters, showing less than a 5 % difference from the average of 32 spatially different data.

Extracting non-propagating oscillatory fields in concrete to detect distributed cracking.

Work to detect and locate distributed subsurface cracks in concrete by extracting non-propagating oscillatory fields is presented. The medium of interest is concrete, but the approach also applies to other types of inhomogeneous media. The theoretical basis of the work is first presented through a one-dimensional point-scatterer model that considers the wavefield set up by multiple distinct scatterers. More complex scattering scenarios are then investigated using numerical simulation. The numerical models consider two types of scatterers: elliptic large-scale particles distributed throughout a medium, and small-sized cracks localized within a damage zone. The theoretical and numerical analyses show that forward propagating waves undergo distinct scattering behavior within the crack damaged zone: non-propagating resonance-like oscillatory fields are set up within the cracked zone, and are distinct from the scatter caused by the large-scale particles. Frequency-wavenumber (f-k) domain analyses to extract the energy of non-propagating oscillatory fields and thus to detect and locate zones of distributed cracking are employed. The proposed approach is evaluated using numerical simulation and experimental data collected from concrete specimens that contain simulated distributed cracks. The results demonstrate that the location of distributed crack zones in discrete random media, such as concrete, can be successfully detected.

Surface-Wave Based Model for Estimation of Discontinuity Depth in Concrete.

In this paper, we propose an accurate and practical model for the estimation of surface-breaking discontinuity (i.e., crack) depth in concrete through quantitative characterization of surface-wave transmission across the discontinuity. The effects of three different mixture types (mortar, normal strength concrete, and high strength concrete) and four different simulated crack depths on surface-wave transmission were examined through experiments carried out on lab-scale concrete specimens. The crack depth estimation model is based on a surface-wave spectral energy approach that is capable of taking into account a wide range of wave frequencies. The accuracy of the proposed crack depth estimation model is validated by root mean square error analysis of data from repeated spectral energy transmission ratio measurements for each specimen.

Monitoring of the Cowpea Bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), Feeding Activity in Cowpea Seeds: Advances in Sensing Technologies Reveals New Insights.

Cowpea provides a significant source of protein for over 200 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), is a major pest of cowpea as the larval stage attacks stored cowpea grains, causing postharvest loss. Cowpea bruchid larvae spend all their time feeding within the cowpea seed. Past research findings, published over 25 yr ago, have shown that feeding activity of several bruchids within a cowpea seed emit mechanical vibrations within the frequency range 5-75 kHz. This work led to the development of monitoring technologies that are both important for basic research and practical application. Here, we use newer and significantly improved technologies to re-explore the nature of the vibration signals produced by an individual C. maculatus, when it feeds in cowpea seeds. Utilizing broadband frequency sensing, individual fourth-instar bruchid larvae feeding activities (vibration events) were recorded to identify specific key emission frequencies. Verification of recorded events and association to actual feeding activities was achieved through mass measurements over 24 h for a series of replicates. The measurements identified variable peak event emission frequencies across the replicate sample set ranging in frequency from 16.4 to 26.5 kHz. A positive correlation between the number of events recorded and the measured mass loss of the cowpea seed was observed. The procedure and verification reported in this work provide an improved basis for laboratory-based monitoring of single larval feeding. From the rich dataset captured, additional analysis can be carried out to identify new key variables of hidden bruchid larval activity.

A contactless ultrasonic surface wave approach to characterize distributed cracking damage in concrete.

We describe an approach that utilizes ultrasonic surface wave backscatter measurements to characterize the volume content of relatively small distributed defects (microcrack networks) in concrete. A simplified weak scattering model is used to demonstrate that the scattered wave field projected in the direction of the surface wave propagation is relatively insensitive to scatterers that are smaller than the propagating wavelength, while the scattered field projected in the opposite direction is more sensitive to sub-wavelength scatterers. Distributed microcracks in the concrete serve as the small scatterers that interact with a propagating surface wave. Data from a finite element simulation were used to demonstrate the viability of the proposed approach, and also to optimize a testing configuration to collect data. Simulations were validated through experimental measurements of ultrasonic backscattered surface waves from test samples of concrete constructed with different concentrations of fiber filler (0.0, 0.3 and 0.6%) to mimic increasing microcrack volume density and then samples with actual cracking induced by controlled thermal cycles. A surface wave was induced in the concrete samples by a 50kHz ultrasonic source operating 10mm above the surface at an angle of incidence of 9°. Silicon-based miniature MEMS acoustic sensors located a few millimeters above the concrete surface both behind and in front of the sender were used to detect leaky ultrasonic surface waves emanating from concrete. A normalized backscattered energy parameter was calculated from the signals. Statistically significant differences in the normalized backscattered energy were observed between concrete samples with varying levels of simulated and actual cracking damage volume.

NDE application of ultrasonic tomography to a full-scale concrete structure.

Newly developed ultrasonic imaging technology for large concrete elements, based on tomographic reconstruction, is presented. The developed 3-D internal images (velocity tomograms) are used to detect internal defects (polystyrene foam and pre-cracked concrete prisms) that represent structural damage within a large steel reinforced concrete element. A hybrid air-coupled/contact transducer system is deployed. Electrostatic air-coupled transducers are used to generate ultrasonic energy and contact accelerometers are attached on the opposing side of the concrete element to detect the ultrasonic pulses. The developed hybrid testing setup enables collection of a large amount of high-quality, through-thickness ultrasonic data without surface preparation to the concrete. The algebraic reconstruction technique is used to reconstruct p-wave velocity tomograms from the obtained time signal data. A comparison with a one-sided ultrasonic imaging method is presented for the same specimen. Through-thickness tomography shows some benefit over one-sided imaging for highly reinforced concrete elements. The results demonstrate that the proposed through-thickness ultrasonic technique shows great potential for evaluation of full-scale concrete structures in the field.

Application of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Sensors Contactless NDT of Concrete Structures.

UNLABELLED: The utility of micro-electro-mechanical sensors (MEMS) for application in air-coupled (contactless or noncontact) sensing to concrete nondestructive testing (NDT) is studied in this paper. The fundamental operation and characteristics of MEMS are first described. Then application of MEMS sensors toward established concrete test methods, including vibration resonance, impact-echo, ultrasonic surface wave, and multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW), is demonstrated. In each test application, the performance of MEMS is compared with conventional contactless and contact sensing technology. Favorable performance of the MEMS sensors demonstrates the potential of the technology for applied contactless NDT efforts. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the utility of air-coupled MEMS sensors for concrete NDT, as compared with conventional sensor technology.

Flocculation and sedimentation in suspensions using ultrasonic wave reflection.

This work was undertaken to help understand and interpret the ultrasonic wave reflection response of Portland cement paste as it transforms from a fluid-like suspension to a solid in the first hours after mixing. A high impact polystyrene buffer (delay line) was used to measure small changes in the P- and S-wave reflection coefficients. Two materials were studied: a non-hydrating colloidal alumina suspension whose microstructure was manipulated between dispersed and flocculated states by adjusting the pH and a coarse silica suspension that readily sedimented. The S-wave reflection coefficient clearly distinguished between dispersed and flocculated states. Sedimentation of particles in dispersed suspensions was distinguished using the P-wave reflection coefficient. Based on these findings, the observed P- and S-wave responses from hydrating Portland cement paste are interpreted in terms of flocculation and sedimentation processes.

Using ultrasonic wave reflection to measure solution properties.

Ultrasonic wave reflection coefficients of aqueous solutions were measured using high-impact polystyrene as a buffer material to provide enhanced sensitivity over metal or ceramic buffer materials. The wave reflection values showed linear reduction when the concentration of chemical species in solution was increased, but a distinct relation between concentration and reflection coefficient was obtained for each solute species tested. However, more unified relationships were observed between reflection coefficient and other solution parameters - solution density, acoustic impedance, and P-wave velocity - that were consistent for all solution species. Based on this behavior an expression to compute solution density solely from reflection coefficient is derived, which can be applied to estimate solution density in solutions of unknown solute species and concentration when other measurements, such as wave velocity, are not possible.

Measurement of surface wave transmission coefficient across surface-breaking cracks and notches in concrete.

In this paper, a technique for measuring a surface wave transmission coefficient across surface-breaking cracks and notches in a heterogeneous but globally isotropic material (concrete) is presented. Once the transmission coefficient across a surface discontinuity is known, its depth may be estimated. There are many difficulties in measuring the transmission coefficient experimentally owing to effects of wave path dependence, unknown characteristics of the receiver and the wave source, and the variation of impact event or receiver coupling. To eliminate the undesired effects, a self-calibrating measurement scheme is applied to obtain the surface wave transmission coefficient across notches and surface-breaking cracks in concrete. The obtained signal transmission coefficient is not affected by the experimental setup or the heterogeneous nature of the material. The testing scheme is described and experimental results obtained from concrete specimens with notches and surface-breaking cracks are presented. Repeatable and reliable measurements of surface wave transmission coefficient are obtained, which demonstrate a strong relation to normalized discontinuity depth. A numerical study using the boundary element method is presented, which verifies the experimental findings.