Ultrasonic Imaging of Concrete Elements Using Reconstruction by Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 15, Issue 3
Abstract
Ultrasonic reconstruction by the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) has a great potential to image concrete elements and detect embedded objects. Its algorithm focuses ultrasonic signals received at many aperture points by coherent superposition, yielding a high-resolution image of the region of interest. Using this approach, several problems caused by the strongly inhomogeneous structure of concrete are diminished, where scattering of transmitted pulses leads to disturbing phenomena such as attenuation and structural noise. This contribution is intended to review the work of the writers on the application of SAFT reconstruction to concrete testing. First, consequences of scattering of ultrasonic waves in concrete are qualitatively explained. Then the use of SAFT is discussed in comparison to traditional A-scan and B-scan techniques. Different reconstruction algorithms and implementations are presented for one-, two-, and three-dimensional SAFT. Pulse-echo measurement systems are described, which are able to acquire large sets of data on linear and planar apertures employing single transducer, transducer array, and scanning laser Doppler vibrometer arrangements. To illustrate the application of the SAFT techniques, examples from laboratory and field experiments are described comprising imaging of back walls, tendon ducts containing faults, layers, and reinforcement in concrete elements.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 15 • Issue 3 • June 2003
Pages: 235 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 7, 2002
Accepted: Jul 12, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
Published in print: Jun 2003
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