Ultrasonic Technique Research Articles

Development of ultrasonic phased array technique for inspection of fir-tree type turbine blade root and disc-rim in nuclear power plant

Development of ultrasonic phased array technique for inspection of fir-tree type turbine blade root and disc-rim in nuclear power plant

Curing monitoring of adhesive layers between metal adherends by ultrasonic resonance technique

Abstract Layer resonance induced by ultrasonic wave incidence is applied to monitor the viscoelastic properties of a curing adhesive layer between metal plates. The theoretical analysis shows that when the adhesive layer is modeled as a linear viscoelastic material, the ultrasonic reflection spectrum takes local minima at the layer resonance frequencies depending on the wave velocity of the adhesive. On the other hand, the local minima of the reflection spectrum can be expressed as a function of the loss factor of the adhesive. Based on these results, a characterization technique for the wave velocity and the loss factor of a curing adhesive layer is proposed. This technique enables the evaluation of the viscoelastic properties even if the reflected waves from both faces of a bond layer cannot be separated. The proposed method is employed to investigate the curing behavior of bi-component epoxy adhesives. As a result, it is shown that the bonding condition affects the variation of the wave velocity and loss factor. The estimated wave velocity increases as the curing proceeds, while the loss factor sometimes takes a local maximum depending on the bonding condition and the frequency range. When the mixing ratio of the main and curing agents is imbalanced, the variation of the wave velocity becomes gradual. Furthermore, the increase in the curing temperature leads to fast changes in the wave velocity and loss factor. The proposed technique has the potential to provide insight into the curing behavior of the adhesive layer by incorporating it into other measurement methods and theories.

Comparison and parametric study of characteristics of eleven types of anisotropic woods based on the behaviour of Lamb wave propagation

AbstractKnowledge in advance of the nine orthotropic independent elastic constants (Cij) of the wood medium is essential for evaluating its mechanical properties. The most prominent technique to retrieve Cij is the ultrasonic testing technique. This technique uses guided waves that can propagate through the material under test. Accordingly, it is worth noting that the numerical modelling of the phase and group velocities of guided waves is an unavoidable preliminary step before experimentally producing guided wave modes. Therefore, the main goal of the present work is to numerically calculate the phase velocity, group velocity and the relevant optimal incidence angles of Lamb waves in anisotropic wood that can be used as a numerical parametric study for any future experimental setup. Here, Lamb dispersion curves are calculated for eleven types of woods, where the Legendre polynomial method is employed to solve the wave equations. Moreover, the optimal incidence angle for each Lamb mode is calculated according to the Snell–Descartes law. By calculating out the three parameters of phase velocity, group velocity and optimal incidence angle of Lamb modes in eleven types of anisotropic woods, we hope to fast-track the researchers in considering the present work to facilitate their experimental measurements.

Role of MoO3 /ZnO substitutions on radiation shielding and mechanical characteristics of lead silicate glasses

In the composition range of x= 0-5 mol%, glasses in the system 60SiO2-35Pb3O4-(5 − 𝑥𝑥) ZnO-xMoO3 have been investigated. An amorphous network structure characterizes the glasses. The density values for the LZSM glasses scaled between 5.91 g/cm³ for Mo0 and 6.249 g/cm³ for Mo5. The ultrasonic technique indicates that the shear and longitudinal speeds (VT & VL) increase linearly as the amount of MoO3 substituted for ZnO in the fabricated glasses increases. The elastic moduli were calculated and found to be increased with an increase in both ultrasonic velocities and density of the glass, which suggests a correlation between these parameters in the fabricated glasses. The radiation attenuation capacity with the addition of MoO3 increased systematically, which indicates the role of MoO3 in modifying the glass composition and enhances its ability to attenuate against harmful radiation. Mo5 establishes excellent protective resources compared to other substances, so Mo5 develops a favorable selection for building radiation absorption blocks. Such blocks show an acute character in protecting both nature and a person's health versus the dangerous impacts of radiation exposure.

Visible light photocatalytic reduction of Toxic Chemical Organophosphate Monocrotophos using reduced Graphene Oxide derived from bamboo leaves

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized from waste bamboo leaves using a pyrolysis and ultra-sonication technique. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a prominent absorption peak at 230nm, while Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic D-band (1340cm⁻¹) and G-band (1596cm⁻¹). XRD analysis showed a peak at 11.5°, corresponding to a lattice spacing of 3nm, and SEM/TEM imaging demonstrated the formation of multi-layered graphene sheets. The synthesized GO was evaluated for the photocatalytic degradation of the organophosphate pesticide monocrotophos under visible light. At a concentration of 25mg/L, graphene exhibited a removal efficiency of 98% with a degradation rate of 0.036 ppm/min, following a Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The significance of this study lies in the potential environmental application, offering an economical and sustainable solution for the decontamination of pesticide-contaminated water sources. The method could contribute significantly for reducing environmental pollution and addressing global water safety challenges.

Correction: Ultrasonic surface treatment techniques based on cold working: a review

Correction: Ultrasonic surface treatment techniques based on cold working: a review

Focused ultrasonic transducer for aircraft icing detection

Ultrasonic detection technique (UDT) serves as a pivotal method for monitoring aircraft icing conditions. However, the inherently porous and irregular shape of atmospheric ice leads to a pronounced attenuation of ultrasonic wave energy during propagation. Current ultrasonic transducers (UTs) fall short of meeting the requisite sensitivity and depth parameters for effective detection. This study proposes an innovative focused ultrasonic transducer (FUT) designed to extend the range of ice detection capabilities. Constructed using a 1–3 piezoelectric composite configuration, this FUT is characterized by its flexibility and slender profile. The focusing effect was accomplished through a deliberate bending mechanism. The FUT demonstrates its efficacy in detecting ice on aluminium skin surfaces. Furthermore, we validated the focusing effect and conducted a thorough optimization process. A comparative analysis between the FUT and traditional planar UTs revealed that the FUT enhances detection energy by approximately 30%, while also nearly doubling the detection range for glaze ice. These findings underscore the FUT’s promising potential for applications in the detection of substantial ice.

Measurement Technique for the Absolute Acoustic Nonlinearity Parameter Employing Only a Narrowband Pulser

In the nonlinear ultrasonic technique, the measurement of the absolute acoustic nonlinearity parameter is employed to obtain quantitative material nonlinearity. In the piezoelectric method, this measurement involves two processes: calibration and harmonic measurements. In the calibration process, a transfer function is obtained, and distortion of the propagating wave is measured in the harmonic measurement. In the conventional method for this measurement, a narrowband pulser is typically used for the harmonic measurement, while a broadband pulser is used for the calibration measurement. In this study, we propose a technique that utilizes a narrowband pulser for both harmonic and calibration measurements. First, we introduced the proposed method to measure the transfer function in the calibration measurement employing the narrowband pulser. Then, we compared the results of the transfer functions and the absolute acoustic nonlinearity parameters obtained using both a narrowband and broadband pulser in the calibration. Based on the experimental results, we found that the results obtained using both the proposed and conventional methods are highly similar, confirming the validity of the proposed measurement technique. In conclusion, even though we exclusively employ the narrowband pulser, we can accurately measure the absolute nonlinearity parameter, leading to a reduction in the required measurement equipment.

Entire loosening stage monitoring of bolted joints via nonlinear electro-mechanical impedance spectroscopy

This article proposes a nonlinear electro-mechanical impedance spectroscopy (NEMIS) methodology for the entire loosening stage monitoring of bolted joints. Unlike the conventional electro-mechanical impedance spectroscopy (EMIS) implemented in the frequency domain, NEMIS utilizes a temporal interrogating signal to procure the developed nonlinear impedance spectrum. It can harness the structural resonance information akin to the conventional EMIS, while concurrently capturing the contact acoustic nonlinearity (CAN) features with only one solitary Piezoelectric Wafer Active Sensor (PWAS). To elucidate the underlying principles of NEMIS, a comparative analysis juxtaposing the conventional EMIS, nonlinear ultrasonic techniques, and the proposed NEMIS was conducted. Subsequently, a reduced-order analytical model was established to simulate the rough contact interfaces of the bolted joints under various looseness states. Parametric studies were carried out to demonstrate the resonance deviation and nonlinear features resulting from the bolt looseness. Ultimately, the experimental implementation of NEMIS for the entire loosening stage monitoring of the bolted joint was performed compared with the conventional EMIS method. It was proved that NEMIS could detect both the incipient bolt loosening at an embryo stage and severe loosening of the bolted joint at the terminal period, integrating the continuous monitoring capability of conventional EMIS and the sensitivity of nonlinear ultrasonic methodology. The quantification on the severity of bolt loosening was accomplished via both linear and nonlinear damage indices, exhibiting a consistent trend with the gradations of bolt looseness. The article culminates in a summary, concluding remarks, and suggestions for future work.

Systematic Approach in the Development of Chitosan Functionalized Iloperidone Nanoemulsions for Transnasal Delivery, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Iloperidone, a second-generation USFDA approved antipsychotic and BCS class II drug shows poor oral bioavailability of 28%. The present research deals with optimization of transnasal nanoemulsions of Iloperidone using Design Expert (Version 11) and further surface functionalization with chitosan for potentiating nose to brain delivery. Chitosan functionalized transnasal Iloperidone nanoemulsions were developed using oleic acid, charge inducer, Tween 80, TranscutolHP and chitosan using ultrasonication technique and evaluated. Droplet size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of Iloperidone nanoemulsions was found to be 173 ± 0.5nm, 0.413 ± 0.2 and - 22.5 ± 0.1mV while that of chitosan functionalized Iloperidone nanoemulsions was 146.4 ± 0.5nm, 0.291 ± 0.02 and + 23.6 ± 0.3mV respectively. Ninhydrin assay, TEM and FTIR studies confirmed surface functionalization of Iloperidone nanoemulsion droplets with chitosan. In vitro release of Iloperidone from nanoemulsions and chitosan functionalized nanoemulsions was 90.41 ± 2.1% and 72.02 ± 0.21% while ex vivo permeation of Iloperidone across goat nasal mucosa was 1270.58 ± 0.023μg/cm2 and 1096.13 ± 0.043μg/cm2 respectively at the end of 8h. Studies in RPMI 2650 nasal and Neuro2A brain cell line lines indicated safety of chitosan functionalized transnasal Iloperidone nanoemulsions. Studies in Wistar rats showed increased cataleptic effects, reduced cognitive impairment and anxiety-related behaviour with greater brain accumulation indicating promising potential of this approach in nose to brain drug delivery.

Low-Power Field-Deployable Interdigital Transducer-Based Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer for Wall-Thinning Detection in Plates

Lamb waves have become a focal point in ultrasonic testing owing to their potential for long-range and inaccessible detection. However, accurately estimating the flaws in plates using Lamb waves remains challenging because of scattering, mode conversion, and dispersion effects. Recent advances in laser ultrasonic wave techniques have introduced innovative visualization methods that exploit the dispersion effect of Lamb waves to visualize defects via, for example, acoustic wavenumber spectroscopy. In this study, we developed an interdigital transducer (IDT)-based scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) system without a power amplifier using a low-power IDT fabricated from lead magnesium niobate–lead zirconate titanate single crystals. To validate the proposed low-power IDT-based SLDV, four different defective plates were measured for defects. A comparison between a conventional IDT-based SLDV, a dry-coupled IDT-based SLDV, and the proposed method demonstrated that the latter is highly reliable for measuring thin plate defects.

In situ monitoring of defects in steel structures using a robot‐assisted ultrasonic inspection technique

AbstractIncidents in extreme environments can bring unprecedented consequences that would endanger the lives of many humans. Real‐time and early detection of cracks and defects in the steel used for the construction of industrial sites can bring many benefits to remote operators and site managers. Although different methods and systems have been proposed in the past, they are not suitable for real‐time fault detection or long‐term operation in harsh environments. Therefore, this paper proposes a low‐power robotic platform with a magnetic actuator mechanism which is capable of wireless inspection of steel structures using the ultrasonic method. The proposed magnetic motion uses the inertia force generated by the piston vibration and the difference in frictional force during movement. The paper evaluates the performance of the steel structure defect detection system from four different perspectives: sensing principle, wireless communication network, driving part, and power supply.

Optimization of dolutegravir and Epigallocatechin gallate loaded nanoemulsion for enhanced oral delivery in NeuroAIDS management

The present study aimed to develop a nanoemulsion loaded with dolutegravir (DTG) and Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) to achieve a combined and synergistic effect for improved oral delivery, facilitating more effective management of NeuroAIDS. Thyme oil was chosen as the oil, tween 80 as the surfactant, and transcutol®HP as the co-surfactant following extensive screening of experiments. The nanoemulsion was fabricated using the ultrasonication technique and optimization was performed using a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) to attain the best formulation following parameters like droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, % transmittance, pH, refractive index, viscosity and conductivity of the optimized nanoemulsion, which were found to be 45.36 nm, 0.2462, −6.226 mV, 96.30 ± 0.20 %, 6.84 ± 0.32, 1.70 ± 0.12, 31.17 ± 0.21 mPas, and 0.217 ± 0.002 mS/cm, respectively. The developed formulation was thoroughly characterized and investigated through various in vitro studies, demonstrating enhanced drug release. The nanoemulsion showcased a spherical and globular nature of the droplets, resulting in improved drug bioavailability compared to the pure drug. In conclusion, the DTG and EGCG-loaded nanoemulsion formulation offers a promising approach for achieving a combined anti-HIV effect, with potential for effective NeuroAIDS management. Future investigations will focus on validating the anti-HIV-1 properties of this nanoemulsion formulation, employing in-depth mechanistic analysis through in vitro preclinical studies, to further elucidate their synergistic effects and optimize therapeutic potential against HIV-1 infection.

Abnormal Gas Generation during First Discharge Process of Sodium Ion Battery.

In recent years, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted a lot of attention and are considered an ideal alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The hard carbon (HC) anode in SIBs presents a unique challenge for studying the formation process of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during initial cycling, owing to its distinctive porous structure. This study employs a combination of ultrasonic scanning techniques and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry to conduct an in-depth analysis of the two-dimensional distribution and composition of gases during the formation process. The findings reveal distinct gas evolution behaviors in SIBs compared to LIBs during formation. Notably, significant gas evolution is observed during the discharge phase of the formation cycle in SIBs, with higher discharge rates leading to increased gas evolution rates. This phenomenon is likely attributed to the adsorption of CO2 gas by the abundant pores in HC, followed by desorption during discharge. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the addition of 5A molecular sieves, which competitively adsorb gases, effectively reduces gas adsorption on the anode during formation, thereby significantly enhancing battery performance. This research elucidates the gas adsorption and desorption behavior at the battery interface, providing new insights into the SEI formation process in SIBs.

Abnormal Gas Generation during First Discharge Process of Sodium Ion Battery

AbstractIn recent years, sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted a lot of attention and are considered an ideal alternative to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The hard carbon (HC) anode in SIBs presents a unique challenge for studying the formation process of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during initial cycling, owing to its distinctive porous structure. This study employs a combination of ultrasonic scanning techniques and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry to conduct an in‐depth analysis of the two‐dimensional distribution and composition of gases during the formation process. The findings reveal distinct gas evolution behaviors in SIBs compared to LIBs during formation. Notably, significant gas evolution is observed during the discharge phase of the formation cycle in SIBs, with higher discharge rates leading to increased gas evolution rates. This phenomenon is likely attributed to the adsorption of CO2 gas by the abundant pores in HC, followed by desorption during discharge. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the addition of 5A molecular sieves, which competitively adsorb gases, effectively reduces gas adsorption on the anode during formation, thereby significantly enhancing battery performance. This research elucidates the gas adsorption and desorption behavior at the battery interface, providing new insights into the SEI formation process in SIBs.

Retrieval of a Separated Instrument using Combination of Ultrasonics and Braiding Technique- A Case Report

The fracture of endodontic instruments represents a procedural error that poses a significant challenge to root canal therapy. A separated instrument, especially a broken file, obstructs the root canal and hinders effective cleaning and shaping. When bypassing the separated instrument proves difficult, mechanical devices should be employed for retrieval. With minimal equipment and patience, it is feasible to recover the separated instrument from the canal. The application of ultrasonics in endodontics has demonstrated reliability in retrieving broken instruments from the root canal. Ultrasonic tips can effectively loosen the instrument fragment, which can then be removed using the Braiding technique. This case report illustrates both the successful retrieval of a separated instrument and a failure case using the same method, providing insight into its advantages and limitations.

A Comparative Study of Geometric Phase Change- and Sideband Peak Count-Based Techniques for Monitoring Damage Growth and Material Nonlinearity.

This work presents numerical modeling-based investigations for detecting and monitoring damage growth and material nonlinearity in plate structures using topological acoustic (TA) and sideband peak count (SPC)-based sensing techniques. The nonlinear ultrasonic SPC-based technique (SPC-index or SPC-I) has shown its effectiveness in monitoring damage growth affecting various engineering materials. However, the new acoustic parameter, "geometric phase change (GPC)" and GPC-index (or GPC-I), derived from the TA sensing technique adopted for monitoring damage growth or material nonlinearity has not been reported yet. The damage growth modeling is carried out by the peri-ultrasound technique to simulate nonlinear interactions between elastic waves and damages (cracks). For damage growth with a purely linear response and for the nonlinearity arising from only the nonlinear stress-strain relationship of the material, the numerical analysis is conducted by the finite element method (FEM) in the Abaqus/CAE 2021 software. In both numerical modeling scenarios, the SPC- and GPC-based techniques are adopted to capture and compare those responses. The computed results show that, from a purely linear scattering response in FEM modeling, the GPC-I can effectively detect the existence of damage but cannot monitor damage growth since the linear scattering differences are small when crack thickness increases. The SPC-I does not show any change when a nonlinear response is not generated. However, the nonlinear response from the damage growth can be efficiently modeled by the nonlocal peri-ultrasound technique. Both the GPC-I and SPC-I techniques can clearly show the damage evolution process if the frequencies are properly chosen. This investigation also shows that the GPC-I indicator has the capability to distinguish nonlinear materials from linear materials while the SPC-I is found to be more effective in distinguishing between different types of nonlinear materials. This work can reveal the mechanism of GPC-I for capturing linear and nonlinear responses, and thus can provide guidance in structural health monitoring (SHM).

A novel 3D polymer gel dosimeter based on polymethyl methacrylate gel (PMMAG) for radiotherapy: Ultrasonic evaluation

This study investigates the characteristics of a novel polymer gel dosimeter (PMMAG) for radiotherapy applications, focusing on its radiation absorption and sensitivity properties. The PMMAG dosimeters were evaluated using both UV–vis spectrophotometry and ultrasonic techniques. The results of the study, UV–vis analysis revealed a significant increase in dose response with the introduction of a cross-linker, peaking at a monomer-to-cross-linker ratio of 5:3. Sensitivity analysis indicated optimal sensitivity at this ratio, with values reaching 0.021 a.u./Gy. Ultrasound evaluation showed that the speed of sound and attenuation coefficient demonstrated a linear relationship and a strong positive correlation with an increase in the applied radiation dose, with the highest sensitivity observed at 8 Gy. The optimal sample exhibited the highest dose-response values at both 4 Gy and 8 Gy doses. Sensitivity values ranged from 2.1 to 2.75. The ultrasonic measurements demonstrated a significantly larger dynamic range in dose response curves compared to UV–vis dose-response data. It is concluded that ultrasound shows great potential as a technique for the evaluation of polymer gel dosimeters. The PMMAG can be introduced as a novel dosimeter for ionizing radiation dosimetry, validated through both optical and ultrasound assessment methods. The consistent and reliable performance of the PMMAG dosimeters makes them suitable for various applications in radiation therapy.

Application of Surface Ultrasonic Waves for Detection of Contact Fatigue Cracks in the Rail Surface

The integrity and durability of rails plays a key role in train safety. However, the interaction of the rail head surface with the wheels of the rolling stock leads to high damage to these areas. The surface of the rail head is subject to the greatest damage, in which fatigue cracks develop on the surface with subsequent development. Timely detection of fatigue cracks in the rolling surface is possible using the ultrasonic technique using surface waves. To do this, the work investigated the sensitivity of a surface ultrasonic wave to obstacles in the surface of rails in the form of extended grooves, notches of finite length and known depth, as well as real cracks. The studies were carried out using the pulse-echo method at frequencies of 1.25, 1.8, 2.5, 4 MHz. Research has shown that surface waves are sensitive to surface fatigue cracks. The amplitude of the reflected pulses depends on the wavelength and the depth of crack propagation. The influence of the distance to fatigue cracks and the orientation angle of the transducer relative to the rail axis on the sensitivity of the surface wave to these defects was also studied. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the use of surface ultrasonic waves makes it possible to detect fatigue cracks in the crack surface. Thus, the use of the pulse-echo technique and surface wave converters makes it possible to detect contact fatigue cracks in the rail head, which can be used to eliminate them in a timely manner. The determination of their depth by amplitude is influenced by many factors, which are difficult to take into account in real conditions.

Improving complexation of puerarin with kudzu starch by various ultrasonic pretreatment: Interaction mechanism analysis

The industrial preparation of kudzu starch (KS) significantly reduces the remaining of flavonoids like puerarin (PU) in the product, weakening its biological activity and making pre-treatments on kudzu crucial. Ultrasonic technique, widely used for modifying biomolecules, can enhance nutrient interactions like those between starch and polyphenols in foods. Thus, a puerarin-kudzu starch (PKS) complex was prepared with the introduction of ultrasonic pretreatment. The results indicated that sonication increased the binding of PU to KS from 0.399 ± 0.01 to 0.609 ± 0.05 mg/g. Particle size analysis and SEM revealed that the particles of the ultrasonic puerarin-kudzu starch complex (UPKS) were larger than those of the untreated complexes. XRD, UV–vis, and FT-IR spectroscopic analyses indicated that hydrogen bonding primarily governs the interaction between PU and KS. Additionally, incorporating PU decreased the starch structure’s orderliness, while ultrasonic treatment altered the helical configuration of straight-chain starch, leading to the formation of a new, ordered structure through the creation of new hydrogen bonds. Additionally, gels formed from UPKS exhibited higher viscosity, elasticity, and shear stress, suggesting that ultrasound significantly altered the intermolecular interactions between PKS. In conclusion, the use of ultrasound under optimal conditions has demonstrated its effectiveness in preparing PKS complexes, highlighting its significant potential to produce high value-added kudzu-based products.