Design and Evaluation of Automated Robotic Ultrasonic Guided Wave Based Inspection System

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Bland ◽  
Shiv P. Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Composite Structures ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Current System ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Sensitivity Testing ◽  
Advanced Composite ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽  
Sandwich Materials

This paper discusses the development and testing of an automated robotic ultrasonic guided wave based inspection system developed to provide an efficient, accurate and reliable method for performing nondestructive evaluation and longer term structural health monitoring in advanced composite structures. The development process and challenges in the design of the automated robotic system are described. A number of tests were performed using the developed robotic ultrasonic inspection system on composite honeycomb core sandwich materials. Experiments showed that the developed automated ultrasonic guided wave inspection system was successful at locating disbonds between the core and the facesheets. Environmental sensitivity testing was also performed to characterize the effect of changing temperature and humidity on system performance. These tests indicate that approach was relatively insensitive to environmental changes, so that this approach could be used in service environment without a significant reduction in performance. Current system testing indicates that the described robotic ultrasonic inspection approach offers an accurate and robust method for inspection and long term tracking of advanced structural system health.

scholarly journals Machine learning at the interface of structural health monitoring and non-destructive evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2182) ◽  
pp. 20190581
Author(s):  
P. Gardner ◽  
R. Fuentes ◽  
N. Dervilis ◽  
C. Mineo ◽  
S.G. Pierce ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Structural Health Monitoring ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Structural Health ◽  
Non Destructive Evaluation ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Non Destructive

While both non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) share the objective of damage detection and identification in structures, they are distinct in many respects. This paper will discuss the differences and commonalities and consider ultrasonic/guided-wave inspection as a technology at the interface of the two methodologies. It will discuss how data-based/machine learning analysis provides a powerful approach to ultrasonic NDE/SHM in terms of the available algorithms, and more generally, how different techniques can accommodate the very substantial quantities of data that are provided by modern monitoring campaigns. Several machine learning methods will be illustrated using case studies of composite structure monitoring and will consider the challenges of high-dimensional feature data available from sensing technologies like autonomous robotic ultrasonic inspection. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Advanced electromagnetic non-destructive evaluation and smart monitoring’.

Ultrasonic guided wave scattering due to delamination in curved composite structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 111987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajendra Kumar Munian ◽  
D. Roy Mahapatra ◽  
S. Gopalakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Wave Scattering ◽  
Composite Structures ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave

Identification of multi-defects in an arched composite structure by the corrected probabilistic diagnostic imaging with the fused damage index

2021 ◽  
pp. 1045389X2110322
Author(s):  
Hashen Jin ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Weibin Li ◽  
Xinlin Qing
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Imaging ◽  
Composite Structure ◽  
Shape Factor ◽  
Composite Structures ◽  
Damage Index ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Identification Accuracy ◽  
Size Information ◽  
Damage Indices ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave

Due to the complicacy of geometry and structure in the arched composite structure, it is difficult to monitor various kinds of defects accurately. The developed damage probabilistic diagnostic imaging approach based on ultrasonic guided wave energy signal characteristics is very feasible for the structural health monitoring in the arched composite structures. However, the conventional probabilistic diagnostic imaging (PDI) approaches united with the signal energy damage indices ( DIs) have some limitations in the identification of the number, location and specific size information of multi-defects. Thus, the damage shape factor from the single damage-impaired path imminently demands to be majorized to raise the precision and stability of PDI approach in the damage recognition. A corrected probabilistic diagnostic imaging (CPDI) approach integrated with the damage shape factor [Formula: see text] needs to be recommended to precisely inspect the expansion of defect zones and different multi-defects in the arched composite structure. The availability and feasibility of the proposed methods has been validated by the experiments in the tested specimen. The results show that the fused frequency-domain energy DIs can be applied to indicate the expansion of defect zones quantitatively. It is proved that the defect identification accuracy of multi-defects from the CPDI approach can be improved by the majorization of damage shape factor, effectively. It is also clearly observed that the number, location and specific size information of different conditions of multi-defects can be distinguished by using the CPDI algorithm, availably.

Non-Contact Tube Inspection Technique Using Laser Generation of Guided Wave and Its Reception by Air-Coupled Transducer

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Young Jhang ◽  
Hyun-Mook Kim ◽  
Hong-Joon Kim ◽  
Yob Ha
Keyword(s):  
Target Surface ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Laser Generation ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Outer Diameter ◽  
Contact Method ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Mode Identification ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽  
Inspection Process

Ultrasonic guided wave has been widely used for the tube inspection. The conventional method is to use piezoelectric transducers that should be contacted to the target surface. In recent years, however, the non-contact method is strongly required in the automation of inspection process for the manufacturers as well as in dangerous environmental in-service inspection. In this paper, we have proposed a non-contact inspection method generating the ultrasonic guided wave by laser and receiving it by an air-coupled transducer. This method can generate and receive the guided wave of a specific mode with selectivity, which makes the interpretation of received signal clearer and resultantly improves the accuracy of inspection. Also the detected signal was analyzed by using the wavelet transform and it was shown that the wavelet analysis is useful for the mode identification. The proposed method was applied to the tube of 1mm thickness and 20mm outer diameter with three different types of artificial notch defects; through-wall, inside and outside of tube. The size of defects were 2∼8mm long in the circumferential direction, with 100μm width. It was proven that all kinds of defects were detectable. Finally we have developed a practical automatic inspection system, in which the inspection result is displayed in a 2-D image.

Development of Guided Wave Ultrasonic Inspection Method for Thick Composite Structures

2014 ◽  
Vol 592-594 ◽  
pp. 153-157
Author(s):  
U. Saikrishna ◽  
K. Srinivas ◽  
Y.L.V.D. Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Composite Structures ◽  
Guided Waves ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Digital Signal ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Test Surface ◽  
Destructive Testing ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
High Attenuation ◽  
Labview Software

Ultrasonic Non-destructive testing is a well known technique for inspecting fiber reinforced composite structures however; its capability is severely limited by the high attenuation in thick and multi layer structures. Guided wave ultrasonic inspection has been reported to be useful tool for quantitative identification of composite structures. It takes advantage of tailoring / generating desired ultrasonic wave modes (Symmetric and anti-symmetric) for improved transmission through the composite structure. For this, guided waves have to be generated selectively by precisely placing transducer at an angle to the test surface. Automation of two axis fixture for transmission and reception of transducers have to be used for avoiding manual errors. The captured signals have to be processed in order to extract useful information from the received ultrasonic signals. The proposed project aims at developing automated guided wave inspection methods along with digital signal processing for generating dispersion curves for thick composited. Using test laminates with implanted defects, methodology for thick composite inspection with guided wave ultrasonic’s will be established. For this data will be captured and analyzed using Labview software.

scholarly journals Ultrasonic Guided Wave Testing on Cross-Ply Composite Laminate: An Empirical Study

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
pp. 5291
Author(s):  
Gerardo Aranguren ◽  
Josu Etxaniz ◽  
Sergio Cantero-Chinchilla ◽  
Jose M. Gil-Garcia ◽  
Muhammad Khalid Malik
Keyword(s):  
Composite Structures ◽  
Composite Laminate ◽  
Guided Waves ◽  
Layered Composite ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
High Signal ◽  
Active Sensors ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽  
Nominal Voltage ◽  
The Waves

Structural health monitoring comprises a set of techniques to detect defects appearing in structures. One of the most viable techniques is based on the guided ultrasonic wave test (UGWT), which consists of emitting waves throughout the structure, acquiring the emitted waves with various sensors, and processing the waves to detect changes in the structure. The UGWT of layered composite structures is challenging due to the anisotropic wave propagation characteristics of such structures and to the high signal attenuation that the waves experience. Hence, very low amplitude signals that are hard to distinguish from noise are typically recovered. This paper analyzes the propagation of guided waves along a cross-ply composite laminate following an empirical methodology. The research compares several implementations for UGWT with piezoelectric wafer active sensors. The reference for comparison is set on a basic mode, which considers the application of nominal voltage to a single sensor. The attenuation and spreading of the waves in several directions are compared when more energy is applied to the monitored structure. In addition, delayed multiple emission is also considered in multisensor tests. The goal of all the UGWT configurations is to transmit more energy to the structure such that the echoes of the emission are of greater amplitude and they ease the signal processing. The study is focused on the realization of viable monitoring systems for aeronautical composite made structures.

scholarly journals Numerical Study on Ultrasonic Guided Waves for the Inspection of Polygonal Drill Pipes

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 2128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Wan ◽  
Xuhui Zhang ◽  
Hongwei Fan ◽  
Peter W. Tse ◽  
Ming Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Guided Waves ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Drill Pipe ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Guided Wave ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Waves ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Ultrasonic Guided Wave ◽  
Wave Technique ◽  
Drill Pipes

The polygonal drill pipe is one of the most critical yet weakest part in a high-torque drill machine. The inspection of a polygonal drill pipe to avoid its failure and thus to ensure safe operation of the drilling machine is of great importance. However, the current most frequently used ultrasonic inspection method is time-consuming and inefficient when dealing with a polygonal drill pipe, which is normally up to several meters. There is an urgent need to develop an efficient method to inspect polygonal drill pipes. In this paper, an ultrasonic guided wave technique is proposed to inspect polygonal drill pipes. Dispersion curves of polygonal drill pipes are firstly derived by using the semi-analytical finite element method. The ALID (absorbing layer using increasing damping) technique is applied to eliminate unwanted boundary reflections. The propagation characteristics of ultrasonic guided waves in normal, symmetrically damaged, and asymmetrically damaged polygonal drill pipes are studied. The results have shown that the ultrasonic guided wave technique is a promising and effective method for the inspection of polygonal drill pipes.

scholarly journals Improvement in Accuracy of a Multi-Joint Robotic Ultrasonic Inspection System for the Integrity of Composite Structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 6967
Author(s):  
Jea Seang Lim ◽  
Tae Sung Park ◽  
Yu Min Choi ◽  
Ik Keun Park
Keyword(s):  
Composite Structures ◽  
Ultrasonic Method ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
High Anisotropy ◽  
Mechanical And Physical Properties ◽  
Type Water ◽  
Degradation Problem

Composite materials have attracted significant attention with regard to the manufacturing of structures that require weight reduction, such as automobiles and aircraft, because they are more resistant to corrosion and fatigue than conventional metal materials. However, such materials exhibit a reliability degradation problem, i.e., their mechanical and physical properties deteriorate due to the occurrence of delamination and voids. Ultrasonic inspection methods have been widely applied for nondestructive detection of such defects in structures; however, the application of these approaches has been impeded due to high anisotropy and acoustic attenuation. In addition, the existing ultrasonic inspection methods require considerable time and cost for the inspection of large materials or structures. These problems were addressed in this study by developing an automatic ultrasonic inspection system; this was achieved by adopting a squirter-type water injection device, which uses a multi-joint robot and the through-transmission ultrasonic method. In addition, a software program to correct axis misalignment was developed and verified to solve the deterioration in defect detectability and accuracy that was caused by axis misalignment, which may occur during the use of the developed system. This development was accomplished after measuring the coordinates of the deformed mechanical part using a three-dimensional laser measuring instrument.

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