Probabilistic evaluation to improve design of impact–echo sources

The aim of the study reported in this paper was to provide rational aid tools to quantify the performance of nondestructive testing (NDT) tools. This study focused on the quantification of the performance of impact-echo sources (steel balls of varied diameters), applied with a new, contactless robot, for duct void detection and thickness measurements in a reinforced concrete wall. Because of uncertainties during the testing, the data were analyzed in a probabilistic context, with the knowledge that on-site inspections were affected by uncertainties. The αδ method was used in this regard, where the probabilities of detection and false alarm rates were used to build receiver operating characteristic curves. The methodology was applied to data measured on the same wall with two steel ball diameters: 0.16 and 0.125 m. The quantity analyzed here was the impact-echo method (resonance) frequency. This methodology could be extended to other parameters of the impact-echo setup as well as to other NDT methods

A semi-analytical finite element method for the forced response and surface wave propagation in multilayered solid spheres

Anglo-French Physical Acoustics Conference, SOUT CROYDON, ROYAUME-UNI, 15-/01/2020 - 17/01/2020The computation of the eigenmodes of solid spheres is a classical problem in mechanics solved more than a century ago by Lamb. This topic has found many applications in geophysics, composites structures and non-destructive testing. The eigenmodes are the solutions of a dispersion relationship which can be obtained analytically. However, numerical methods are preferred for complex structures such as a multilayered spheres. One-dimensional models can be obtained based on semi-analytical methods, in which the angular directions are described analytically (based on spherical harmonics functions) and the radial direction is discretized. This approach yields a linear eigenproblem which is simple to solve. The existing semi-analytical methods (Heyliger & Jilani, 1992 ; Park, 2002) are not fully satisfactory. Indeed, the related eigenproblems are not given in a closed-form (numerous integrations are required) or are specific to a choice of interpolating functions. We propose a more general formulation. The main issue is to correctly identify the orthogonality relationships of spherical harmonics, used to uncouple the angular and the radial directions. Because the elastodynamics equations are vector wave equations, both vector and tensor spherical harmonics orthogonalities are required. While the orthogonality of vector spherical harmonics is rather well-known and straightforward, the orthogonality of tensor spherical harmonics is much more mathematically involved (Martinec, 2000). In this work, a closed-form eigenproblem is eventually obtained for any interpolating function and favourably compared to literature results (Eringen & Suhubi, 1975). Additionally, the forced response can be calculated explicitly based on the eigenmodes. It can be used to reconstruct surface wave propagation phenomena. We particularly focus on the phenomenon of Rayleigh wave collimation described by Clorennec and Royer (2004): for a line source of specific width, the Rayleigh wave is not diffracted on the surface of the sphere but propagates with a quasi-constant width. We show that this phenomenon is accurately recovered with our numerical model. An analysis based on eigenmodes is proposed. We also study the perturbation induced by the addition of a thin viscoelastic coating. Furthermore, the case of an infinite embedding medium surrounding the sphere is also considered. In that case, the radial direction must be bounded so that the problem can be numerically handled. For that purpose, a radial Perfecty Matched Layer (PML) of finite thickness is applied. The leakage amount (radiative losses) of eigenmodes, of practical interest to select the modes with the highest quality factor, is then evaluated. The existence of a collimating wave with an infinite surrounding medium is also investigated

Tracking fluids in multiple scattering and highly porous materials: toward applications in non-destructive testing and seismic monitoring

International audienceSeismic and ultrasonic waves are sometimes used to track fluid injections, propagation, infiltrations in complex material, including geological and civil engineered ones. In most cases, one use the acoustic velocity changes as a proxy for water content evolution. Here we propose to test an alternative seismic or acoustic observable : the waveform decorrelation. We use a sample of compacted millimetric sand as a model medium of highly porous multiple scattering materials. We fill iteratively the sample with water, and track changes in ultrasonic waveforms acquired for each water level. We take advantage of the high sensitivity of diffuse coda waves (late arrivals) to track small water elevation in the material. We demonstrate that in the mesoscopic regime where the wavelength, the grain size and the porosity are in the same order of magnitude, Coda Wave Decorrelation (waveform change) is more sensitive to fluid injection than Coda Wave Interferometry (apparent velocity change). This observation is crucial to interpret fluid infiltration in concrete with ultrasonic record changes, as well as fluid injection in volcanoes or snow melt infiltration in rocky glaciers. In these applications, Coda Wave Decorrelation might be an extremely interesting tool for damage assessment and alert systems

Identification of Different Seismic Waves Generated by Foundation Vibration in the Centrifuge: Travel Time, Spectral and Numerical Investigations

For the analysis of footings under dynamic loading scaled modeling in the centrifuge assumes that the soil behaves like at prototype scale. This paper demonstrates that for a container filled with dry sand, wave velocities can be described by a model based on the relation between the shear modulus and the depth dependent stress level proposed by Iwasaki and Tatsuoka. A preliminary estimation of the shear wave velocities and of the Poisson’s ratio confirms by dynamical measurements the currently use value of 0.25. A FEM modeling also helps to strengthen the validity of the model proposed, providing another insight in the propagation of waves in a soil with a velocity gradient

Monitoring of a Large Cracked Concrete Sample with Non-Linear Mixing of Ultrasonic Coda Waves

International audienceA high precision can be achieved with ultrasonic coda waves to monitor the mechanical properties of concrete material (~10-5 in relative). This high sensitivity can be used to detect damage initiation and to closely follow concrete mechanical properties evolution with time. This advantage is counterbalance by the influence of environmental conditions making reproducibility of any experiment in concrete a challenging issue especially when in situ measurements are performed. Indeed thermal and water gradients present in the thickness of the structures (several decimetres) cannot be controlled and must be compensated. In this paper a protocol to remove environmental bias is proposed. Furthermore, to follow the apparition of a tensile crack in a metric size structure, non-linear mixing of coda wave via frequency-swept pump waves is tested. It is shown that, when the crack is closed (by pre-stressing cables), it is still possible to detect its presence. The non-linearity of the cracked zone remains at a high level, comparable to the case when the crack was open

Contrôle de santé des matériaux et structures par analyse de la coda ultrasonore

La coda ultrasonore présente une haute sensibilité aux perturbations du milieu de propagation. L'analyse de la coda par la Coda Wave Interferometry (CWI) permet d'évaluer précisément la variation de la vitesse de propagation (résolution en relatif de 0,001 %). Une telle évaluation peut être utilisée pour le contrôle non destructif (ECND) d un matériau ou d'une structure.Un essai expérimental est présenté au début comme exemple d utilisation de la CWI pour l ECND du béton. Face aux problèmes inhérents au degré de précision de cet essai, nous présentons un protocole conçu pour améliorer la fiabilité des résultats CWI. Nous vérifions expérimenta vérifient que ce protocole peut améliorer la répétabilité de l essai en réduisant les biais provenant des fluctuations de température ambiante et des procédures expérimentales. Avec ce protocole, une étude du comportement de béton sous un chargement uni-axial en traction directe a été effectuée en utilisant la CWI. Les comportements élastique (l effet acoustoélastique) et anélastique (l effet Kaiser) du béton sont observés via les résultats CWI. Un coefficient acoustoélastique effectif (Bêta) a été déterminé et utilisé pour la détection d un endommagement léger du béton.La CWI est ensuite utilisée pour la détection globale de défauts dans un milieu initialement linéaire (verre) en observant la modulation non linéaire. L apparition de ce phénomène non linéaire est due à la présence des défauts et détectée par la variation des résultats CWI en fonction de l amplitude de l onde de pompe. Nous montrons que cette méthode permet la détection des défauts et d évaluation du niveau d endommagement d une manière globale sans zone aveugle.With their long and complex propagation paths, coda waves can probe the propagation medium repeatedly and show a high sensitivity to the perturbations to the medium, i.e. variations in propagation velocity. Since such variations may indicate the modification of elastic properties and Coda Wave interferometry (CWI) can determine it precisely (relative resolution of 0.001%), CWI is considered a promising method for non destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E). An experimental test is presented as an example of the CWI use on concrete for NDT&E purpose. For solving the experimental repeatability issue revealed in this test, a bias-control protocol is designed to reduce the experimental bias in CWI results. It is experimentally confirmed that this protocol can remarkably improve the reliability of CWI results and the experimental repeatability. Together with this bias-control protocol, the CWI is used to study the behaviors of concrete under uni-axial load in direct tension. Both elastic (acoustoealstic effect) and inelastic (Kaiser effect) behaviors are observed via CWI results. Effective value of acoustoelastic coefficient is then determined from CWI results and used for the detection of an early-stage damage that artificially induced to the concrete specimen. A defect-detection method of an initially linear medium (glass) is then developed by using the CWI. Due to the nonlinearity brought by the defects, acoustic mixing effect occurred, and the observation of such effect is the indication of damage. The use of a broadband pump wave and the CWI makes possible to 1) detect the damage globally without blind zone and 2) assess the damage level in an effective manner.LE MANS-BU Sciences (721812109) / SudocSudocFranceF

Closed Crack Detection in Concrete with Coda Wave Non-Linear Modulation

International audienceConcrete is a widely used construction material by virtue of its cost and mechanical properties. Due to its low tensile strength however, concrete is very sensitive to crack formation. Cracks in concrete are responsible for significant inspection, maintenance and repair costs. In order to optimize structural health management, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) has been extensively studied. Among all NDT techniques, ultrasonic methods are considered advantageous by providing information on mechanical properties in areas not directly accessible from the surface. Recent studies have led to developing nonlinear ultrasonic methods to increase the sensitivity to damage making possible the detection of large cracks/notches and the monitoring of crack evolution. However, the detection of small cracks in concrete remains a great challenge for NDT techniques. In this study, an ultrasonic method, based on nonlinear acoustic mixing of coda waves by lower-frequency swept pump waves, providing for an efficient global detection of small cracks in concrete is presented. By simultaneous comparison, for uncracked and cracked mortars, of ultrasonic velocity variations and decorrelation coefficient between the unperturbed and the perturbed signals for different pump amplitude, the method allows to accurately detect very small cracks with widths of around 20 mm correlated with velocity variations of approximately 0.01%. This method is reproducible and able to provide a simple means for differentiating damaged and sound concrete. Attention must be paid however to the material evolution during the time span of both a single experiment and the entire experimental campaign as a consequence of the presumed high sensitivity of the observables. Several applications of this technique could be developed in the field of civil engineering, although the power of the pump source would constitute a limitation. For example, the detection of small cracks causing leakage could be performed without any need for percolating fluid