Toward Real-Time Giga-Voxel Optoacoustic/Photoacoustic Microscopy: GPU-Accelerated Fourier Reconstruction with Quasi-3D Implementation

We propose a GPU-accelerated implementation of frequency-domain synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) employing truncated regularized inverse k-space interpolation. Our implementation achieves sub-1s reconstruction time for data sizes of up to 100 M voxels, providing more than a tenfold decrease in reconstruction time as compared to CPU-based SAFT. We provide an empirical model that can be used to predict the execution time of quasi-3D reconstruction for any data size given the specifications of the computing system.

3D Internal Visualization of Concrete Structure Using Multifaceted Data for Ultrasonic Array Pulse-Echo Tomography

This research proposes a 3D internal visualization using ultrasonic pulse-echo tomography technique to evaluate accurately the state of concrete structures for their efficient maintenance within a limited budget. Synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) is used as a post-processing algorithm to manipulate the data measured by the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique. Multifaceted measurements improve the weakness of the existing ultrasonic pulse-echo tomography technique that cannot identify the area beyond a reflector as well as the area located far away from measuring surfaces. The application of apodization factor, pulse peak delay calibration and elimination of trivial response not only complements the weaknesses of the SAFT algorithm but also improves the accuracy of the SAFT algorithm. The results show that the proposed method reduces the unnecessary surface noise and improves the expressiveness of the reflector’s boundaries on the resulting images. It is expected that the proposed 3D internal visualization technique will provide a useful non-destructive evaluation tool in combination with another structure evaluation method.

Improvement in resolution of fiber-laser photoacoustic tomography based on a virtual-point concept

In this study, a virtual-point concept was introduced into fiber-laser photoacoustic tomography to improve the elevational image resolution. The flexible fiber laser was bent into an arc shape to conform to the ultrasound wavefront, which formed an ultrasound focus at the center of the arc. The synthetic aperture focusing technique was utilized to reconstruct the images; as a result, the elevational resolution particularly within the out-of-focus region was considerably improved compared to the resolution of an image retrieved by multiplexing the PA time-resolved signals with sound velocity. The all-optical fiber-laser photoacoustic tomography system with a high spatial resolution has potential for various applications, including biomedical research and preclinical/clinical diagnosis.

Laser-induced ultrasonic measurements for the detection and reconstruction of surface defects

Laser-induced ultrasonic measurement is a non-contact non-destructive technology that can be employed for the testing and assessment of surface defects. In order to improve the correct identification of defects, the full matrix capture (FMC) and total focusing method (TFM) are applied on the imaging process. FMC data includes A-scans resulting from the combination of all measurement axes defined by the sequential generation and detection of utilized laser beams in the system. In this paper, an aluminium block with four holes whose diameters range from 1 mm to 2.5 mm is assessed through B-scans, the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) and FMC/TFM. The results demonstrate that the FMC/TFM technology can significantly improve the imaging quality and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In addition, this method has higher lateral resolution and larger imaging range compared with traditional B-scans.

Development and validation of an ultrasound imaging software for nondestructive evaluation of concrete pavements

ABSTRACT: A Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique-based ultrasound imaging software was developed and validated in this work. The software development process was discussed in detail. For validation, Jointed Plain Concrete Pavements were imaged with the evaluated software and a software assumed to yield standard images. The quality of the standard and evaluated images were analyzed and compared. The backwalls and dowels were recognizable in the standard and evaluated images. The thickness estimates obtained with each software was the same. The characteristics of objects and artifacts were explained in terms of the technology’s fundamentals and its implementations’ characteristics. The evaluated software resulted, therefore, in images of similar quality to the standard software’s images from a practical standpoint. The herein developed software was then validated for research on nondestructive evaluation of concrete pavements and can be used for testing and development of performance-improving signal and image processing techniques.

Numerical simulation of internal defect imaging with the longitudinal wave generated by laser induced ultrasonic array

To verify the performance of longitudinal waves induced by laser phased arrays (LPA) for detection and quantitative evaluation in internal defects, the finite element method (FEM) is utilized to establish the models of LPA scanning processing. The interaction of longitudinal wave and internal defect is analyzed. Besides, the two components of the reflected longitudinal waves (the longitudinal wave component [Formula: see text] and the shear wave component [Formula: see text] are focused on the imaging of defects with the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) and total focusing method (TFM) algorithms. It shows that the imaging of internal sub-millimeter defect is obtained using the LPA. The defect size and location are simultaneously calculated, with the relative error being 6.7% and 2.9%, respectively. The proposed longitudinal wave-based LPA is a promising method for the imaging and evaluation of internal micro defects.