In situ 2-D piezoelectric wafer active sensors arrays for guided wave damage detection

Lingyu Yu; Victor Giurgiutiu

doi:10.1016/j.ultras.2007.10.008

In situ 2-D piezoelectric wafer active sensors arrays for guided wave damage detection

Ultrasonics. 2008 Apr;48(2):117-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2007.10.008. Epub 2007 Dec 14.

Authors

Lingyu Yu¹, Victor Giurgiutiu

Affiliation

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 300 South Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. yu3@engr.sc.edu

PMID: 18206202
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2007.10.008

Abstract

This paper presented development work of an in situ method for damage detection in thin-wall structures using embedded two-dimensional ultrasonic phased arrays. Piezoelectric wafer active sensors were used to generate and receive guided Lamb waves propagating in the plate-like structure. The development of a generic beamforming algorithm that does not require parallel ray assumption through using full wave propagation paths is described. A virtual beam steering method and device, the embedded ultrasonic structural radar, was implemented as a signal post-processing procedure. Several two-dimensional configurations were investigated and compared with beamforming simulation. Finally, rectangular shape arrays were developed for verifying the generic formulas and omnidirectionality. The rectangular arrays yield good directionality within the 360 degrees full range and are able to detect damage anywhere in the entire plate.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Computer-Aided Design*
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Materials Testing / instrumentation*
Materials Testing / methods
Transducers*
Ultrasonography / instrumentation*