Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy

Ultrasonic arrays have been investigated for inspecting the quality of special materials. Unfortunately, non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) of internal defects in additive manufacturing (AM) materials are difficult due to the anisotropy and the coarse grain. To solve the problem,...

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Main Authors: Wentao Li, Zhenggan Zhou, Yang Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/20/4371
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author Wentao Li
Zhenggan Zhou
Yang Li
author_facet Wentao Li
Zhenggan Zhou
Yang Li
author_sort Wentao Li
collection DOAJ
description Ultrasonic arrays have been investigated for inspecting the quality of special materials. Unfortunately, non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) of internal defects in additive manufacturing (AM) materials are difficult due to the anisotropy and the coarse grain. To solve the problem, this paper brings forward research on the inspection of TC18 AM titanium alloy products using an ultrasonic array. Firstly, a three-dimensional acoustic field distribution of different ultrasonic array transducers is established to design an optimal detection solution for an AM titanium alloy. Then, a total focusing method (TFM) for the ultrasonic annular array transducer is proposed and its imaging method is analyzed. Besides, the relation between ultrasonic group velocities in a TC18 AM specimen with different propagating angles is measured using the full matrix capture (FMC) method. Based on the measurements, the anisotropy of the AM titanium alloy is discussed and the TFM algorithm of annular array is optimized as well. Finally, C-scan experiments are conducted on the specimen with a height of 55 mm using the linear ultrasonic array transducer of the conventional focusing method and the TFM of annular array transducer, respectively. The results show that the TFM of annular array has higher accuracy in quantifying the defects of flat bottom holes and transverse holes with a diameter of 0.8 mm. In addition, the detection results of different forming directions are analyzed and the 3D imaging of defects in the specimen is realized based on FMC data. The TFM of annular array is an innovative ultrasonic testing technology with high resolution for AM titanium alloy products.
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spelling doaj.art-6c06d89f04734678a940dd4788a21d732022-12-22T02:55:21ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202019-10-011920437110.3390/s19204371s19204371Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium AlloyWentao Li0Zhenggan Zhou1Yang Li2School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, ChinaUltrasonic arrays have been investigated for inspecting the quality of special materials. Unfortunately, non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) of internal defects in additive manufacturing (AM) materials are difficult due to the anisotropy and the coarse grain. To solve the problem, this paper brings forward research on the inspection of TC18 AM titanium alloy products using an ultrasonic array. Firstly, a three-dimensional acoustic field distribution of different ultrasonic array transducers is established to design an optimal detection solution for an AM titanium alloy. Then, a total focusing method (TFM) for the ultrasonic annular array transducer is proposed and its imaging method is analyzed. Besides, the relation between ultrasonic group velocities in a TC18 AM specimen with different propagating angles is measured using the full matrix capture (FMC) method. Based on the measurements, the anisotropy of the AM titanium alloy is discussed and the TFM algorithm of annular array is optimized as well. Finally, C-scan experiments are conducted on the specimen with a height of 55 mm using the linear ultrasonic array transducer of the conventional focusing method and the TFM of annular array transducer, respectively. The results show that the TFM of annular array has higher accuracy in quantifying the defects of flat bottom holes and transverse holes with a diameter of 0.8 mm. In addition, the detection results of different forming directions are analyzed and the 3D imaging of defects in the specimen is realized based on FMC data. The TFM of annular array is an innovative ultrasonic testing technology with high resolution for AM titanium alloy products.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/20/4371ultrasonic arrayadditive manufacturing (am)tc18 titanium alloytotal focusing methodannular array
spellingShingle Wentao Li
Zhenggan Zhou
Yang Li
Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
Sensors
ultrasonic array
additive manufacturing (am)
tc18 titanium alloy
total focusing method
annular array
title Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
title_full Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
title_fullStr Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
title_full_unstemmed Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
title_short Application of Ultrasonic Array Method for the Inspection of TC18 Addictive Manufacturing Titanium Alloy
title_sort application of ultrasonic array method for the inspection of tc18 addictive manufacturing titanium alloy
topic ultrasonic array
additive manufacturing (am)
tc18 titanium alloy
total focusing method
annular array
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/20/4371
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AT yangli applicationofultrasonicarraymethodfortheinspectionoftc18addictivemanufacturingtitaniumalloy