In this study, two kinds of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques (rebound hardness and ultrasonic pulse velocity methods) are investigated for the effective maintenance of underwater concrete structures. A new methodology to estimate the underwater concrete strengths more effectively, named “artificial neural network (ANN) – based concrete strength estimation with the combination of rebou...

The capability of embedded piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) to perform in-situ nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is explored. Theoretical developments and laboratory tests are used to prove that PWAS transducers can satisfactorily perform Lamb wave transmission and reception, pulse-echo, pitch-catch, and phased array functions of conventional ultrasonics thus opening the road for embedde...

Advances in magnetoresistive (MR) type sensors provide a new technique for nondestructive evaluation NDE of metal structures. GMR and GMI sensors provide high sensitivity and reduced size, with GMI sensors also adding capabilities of high frequency range of measurements. Being produced with thin film processing techniques, the manufacturing cost of these sensors is low. An example is considered...

Studies at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington, are being conducted to evaluate nondestructive examinations (NDE) coupled with mechanical testing of butt fusion joints in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for assessing lack of fusion. The work provides information to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the effectiveness of volumetric inspection te...

The growing use of composite materials for aerospace applications has resulted in the need quantitative methods to analyze components. Ultrasonic guided waves constitute physical approach nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) solid materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. Ultrasound based NDE are commonly used field, but ultrasonic wa...

A radar NDE (nondestructive evaluation) technique using an airborne antenna operating in the far-field condition is developed for detecting damages such as delamination and concrete cracking in GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer)-wrapped concrete columns. The far-field airborne radar (FAR) NDE technique is advantageous for distant measurement of bridge columns in practical applications. Far-f...

Nondestructive evaluation NDE is implemented in various industrial sectors. Different modalities have been developed for NDE applications during the last few decades. There is a tradeoff between advantages and limitations associated with each technique and even within the same technique using different inspection parameters. This research is oriented to enhance electromagnetic NDE using image f...

Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of aerospace structures using traditional methods is a complex, time-consuming process critical to maintaining mission readiness and flight safety. Limited access to corrosion-prone structure and the restricted applicability of available NDE techniques for the detection of hidden corrosion or other damage often compound the challenge. In this paper we discuss our...

The use of piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) for embedded ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is described. PWAS structure and principle of operation are presented. The interaction between PWAS and ultrasonic Lamb waves is modeled and analyzed, and excitation “sweet spots” for preferentially exciting certain Lamb wave modes are identified. Recent trends in guided-wave ultrasonic ...

Material state awareness of composites using conventional Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) method is limited by finding the size and the locations of the cracks and the delamination in a composite structure. To aid the progressive failure models using the slow growth criteria, the awareness of the precursor damage state and quantification of the degraded material properties is necessary, which i...