ABSTRACT
This paper describes the use of finite element (FE) analysis as a tool in the design process for laboratory based ultrasonic test cells. The system was designed to incorporate an array of ultrasonic transducers to provide a pressure focus in the centre of the cell and importantly, operate both above and below the cavitation threshold of the load medium. Furthermore, the cell incorporates a coolant jacket to accommodate temperature control of the load material associated with the process. A 2D FE model corresponding to a slice through the operational plane of the cell was developed and used to investigate the influence of cell wall material and thickness, transducer configuration, rotation of a metallic stirrer blade and heat transfer fluid on the cell acoustic response. Importantly, experimentally measured pressure field maps demonstrate good correlation with the FE predicted fields. A final manufactured test cell is shown to produce a highly focussed region of cavitation. Finally, the importance in accurately representing the acoustic properties of the constituent materials used in such FE models is demonstrated through an illustrated example.
ABSTRACT
This paper will describe the application of a finite element (FE) code to design a test cell, in which a single transducer is used to generate acoustic cavitation. The FE model comprises a 2-D slice through the centre of the test cell and was used to evaluate the generated pressure fields as a function of frequency. Importantly, the pressure fields predicted by FE modelling are used to indicate the position of pressure peaks, or 'hot-spots', and nulls enabling the systems design engineer to visualise both the potential cavitation areas, corresponding to the 'hot-spots', and areas of low acoustic pressure. Through this design process, a rectangular test cell was constructed from perspex for use with a 40 kHz Tonpilz transducer. A series of experimental measurements was conducted to evaluate the cavitation threshold as a function of temperature and viscosity/surface tension, for different fluid load media. The results indicate the potential of the FE design approach and assist the design engineer in understanding the influence of the fluid load medium on the cell's ability to produce a strong cavitation field.
Subject(s)
Finite Element Analysis , Ultrasonics , Acoustics/instrumentation , Equipment Design , TransducersABSTRACT
A condition monitoring nondestructive evaluation (NDE) system, combining the generation of ultrasonic Lamb waves in thin composite plates and their subsequent detection using an embedded optical fiber system is described. The acoustic source is of low profile with respect to the composite plate thickness, surface conformable, and able to efficiently launch a known Lamb wave mode, at operating frequencies between 100 and 500 kHz, over typical propagation distances of 100 to 500 mm. It incorporates both piezocomposite technology and interdigital design techniques to generate the fundamental symmetrical Lamb wave mode in both metallic and carbon-fiber composite plates. Linear systems and finite element modeling techniques have been used to evaluate the operation of the transducer structure, and this is supplemented by experimental verification of the simulated data. An optical fiber, either bonded to the surface or embedded across the length of the composite plate samples, is used to detect the propagating ultrasonic Lamb waves. Single mode silica fiber has been used in conjunction with a portable 633 nm Mach-Zehnder interferometer for signal demodulation and subsequent data acquisition. This hybrid system is shown to generate and detect the fundamental symmetrical Lamb wave (s(0)) in both carbon-fiber and glass-fiber reinforced composite plates. Importantly, the system signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) associated with the acoustic source compares favorably with s(0) Lamb wave generation using a conventional transducer and angled perspex wedge arrangement.
ABSTRACT
The effectiveness of surface-bonded and embedded optical fibers for the detection of ultrasonic Lamb waves in 2-3-mm-thick steel, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) plates are compared. A novel integrating ultrasonic sensor was achieved using the signal arm of an actively stabilized 633-nm homodyne Mach-Zehnder fiber interferometer which was either bonded directly to the plate surface or spliced to single-mode fibers embedded within a composite plate during manufacture. An embedded fiber is shown to be about 20 times more sensitive to Lamb wave motions than a surface-bonded fiber. However, the latter may be more practical.
ABSTRACT
A pulsed laser has been used to generate ultrasonic transients in samples of metal and fiber-reinforced polymer composite material. These have been detected using an air-coupled piezoelectric transducer. It is demonstrated that such a transduction system can be used for longitudinal waves in bulk material, Rayleigh waves at solid surfaces and Lamb waves in thin plates.
