Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement
Low-frequency ultrasonic testing is a well-established non-destructive testing (NDT) method in civil engineering for material characterization and the localization of cracks, reinforcing bars and delamination. A novel ultrasonic borehole probe is developed for in situ quality assurance of sealing st...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/24/9823 |
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| author | Prathik Prabhakara Frank Mielentz Heiko Stolpe Matthias Behrens Vera Lay Ernst Niederleithinger |
| author_facet | Prathik Prabhakara Frank Mielentz Heiko Stolpe Matthias Behrens Vera Lay Ernst Niederleithinger |
| author_sort | Prathik Prabhakara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low-frequency ultrasonic testing is a well-established non-destructive testing (NDT) method in civil engineering for material characterization and the localization of cracks, reinforcing bars and delamination. A novel ultrasonic borehole probe is developed for in situ quality assurance of sealing structures in radioactive waste repositories using existing research boreholes. The aim is to examine the sealing structures made of salt concrete for any possible cracks and delamination and to localize built-in components. A prototype has been developed using 12 individual horizontal dry point contact (DPC) shear wave transducers separated by equidistant transmitter/receiver arrays. The probe is equipped with a commercially available portable ultrasonic flaw detector used in the NDT civil engineering industry. To increase the sound pressure generated, the number of transducers in the novel probe is increased to 32 transducers. In addition, the timed excitation of each transducer directs a focused beam of sound to a specific angle and distance based on the previously calculated delay time. This narrows the sensitivity of test volume and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signals. In this paper, the newly designed phased array borehole probe is validated by beam computation in the CIVA software and experimental investigations on a half-cylindrical test specimen to investigate the directional characteristics. In combination with geophysical reconstruction methods, it is expected that an optimised radiation pattern of the probe will improve the signal quality and thus increase the reliability of the imaging results. This is an important consideration for the construction of safe sealing structures for the safe disposal of radioactive or toxic waste. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:52:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8aab42094efb47d7a208f16984e21487 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:52:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-8aab42094efb47d7a208f16984e214872023-11-24T17:55:54ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-12-012224982310.3390/s22249823Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and MeasurementPrathik Prabhakara0Frank Mielentz1Heiko Stolpe2Matthias Behrens3Vera Lay4Ernst Niederleithinger5Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, GermanyBundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, GermanyBundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, GermanyBundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, GermanyBundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, GermanyBundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM), 12205 Berlin, GermanyLow-frequency ultrasonic testing is a well-established non-destructive testing (NDT) method in civil engineering for material characterization and the localization of cracks, reinforcing bars and delamination. A novel ultrasonic borehole probe is developed for in situ quality assurance of sealing structures in radioactive waste repositories using existing research boreholes. The aim is to examine the sealing structures made of salt concrete for any possible cracks and delamination and to localize built-in components. A prototype has been developed using 12 individual horizontal dry point contact (DPC) shear wave transducers separated by equidistant transmitter/receiver arrays. The probe is equipped with a commercially available portable ultrasonic flaw detector used in the NDT civil engineering industry. To increase the sound pressure generated, the number of transducers in the novel probe is increased to 32 transducers. In addition, the timed excitation of each transducer directs a focused beam of sound to a specific angle and distance based on the previously calculated delay time. This narrows the sensitivity of test volume and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signals. In this paper, the newly designed phased array borehole probe is validated by beam computation in the CIVA software and experimental investigations on a half-cylindrical test specimen to investigate the directional characteristics. In combination with geophysical reconstruction methods, it is expected that an optimised radiation pattern of the probe will improve the signal quality and thus increase the reliability of the imaging results. This is an important consideration for the construction of safe sealing structures for the safe disposal of radioactive or toxic waste.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/24/9823borehole probeengineered barriermonitoringphased array techniqueultrasonic testingnon-destructive testing civil engineering |
| spellingShingle | Prathik Prabhakara Frank Mielentz Heiko Stolpe Matthias Behrens Vera Lay Ernst Niederleithinger Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement Sensors borehole probe engineered barrier monitoring phased array technique ultrasonic testing non-destructive testing civil engineering |
| title | Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement |
| title_full | Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement |
| title_fullStr | Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement |
| title_short | Validation of Novel Ultrasonic Phased Array Borehole Probe by Using Simulation and Measurement |
| title_sort | validation of novel ultrasonic phased array borehole probe by using simulation and measurement |
| topic | borehole probe engineered barrier monitoring phased array technique ultrasonic testing non-destructive testing civil engineering |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/24/9823 |
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