Determination of Proper Ultrasonic Frequency Based on Wall Thickness of the Metal Pipes in Ultrasonic Tomography Systems

Abstract

In this research, determination of the applicable ultrasonic sensors based on the wall thickness of the metal pipe for the purpose of transmission tomography is studied. The range of applicable ultrasonic frequencies according to the thickness of the metal pipe is investigated. For the study of the behaviour of ultrasonic wave propagation in various metal pipes of different thicknesses, two-dimensional (2D) modelling of the system with COMSOL software is utilized. The paper presents an exploration of the effect of variation of the wall thickness on the propagation of ultrasonic waves, including a frequency analysis in order to find the maximum applicable frequency. The simulation results are compared to experimental data and are shown to provide key insight for this well-defined experimental case by explaining the signals obtained from the experimental setup. Finally, the experimental results which are useful for further investigation for the application of ultrasonic transmission tomography in the industry are illustrated.