Ultrasonic Inspection System Using a Long Waveguide with an Acoustic Horn for High-Temperature Structure
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Intelligent Mechanical Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan. 2 Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
1 Department of Intelligent Mechanical Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka, Japan. 2 Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
ABSTRACT
The nondestructive inspection of a high temperature structure is required in order to guarantee its safety. However, there are no useful sensors for high temperature structures. Some of them cannot work at temperatures over 50°C. Another concern is that they are too expensive to use. A sensing system, which can transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave that travels a long distance using a long waveguide, has been studied. We confirmed that the optimal guided ultrasonic wave could travel more than 10 m using an electromagnetic transducer (EMAT) with a thin Ni-sheet surrounded on the surface of the bar and a 2-mm diameter bar as the waveguide. However, we had the difficult problem of receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave from the inside of a test specimen. We tried to improve the trial inspection system using an acoustic horn. An experiment in which the temperature of the test block was heated to about 500°C has now been completed. Finally, the condition of the bend in the waveguide to pass without reflection was confirmed.
The nondestructive inspection of a high temperature structure is required in order to guarantee its safety. However, there are no useful sensors for high temperature structures. Some of them cannot work at temperatures over 50°C. Another concern is that they are too expensive to use. A sensing system, which can transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave that travels a long distance using a long waveguide, has been studied. We confirmed that the optimal guided ultrasonic wave could travel more than 10 m using an electromagnetic transducer (EMAT) with a thin Ni-sheet surrounded on the surface of the bar and a 2-mm diameter bar as the waveguide. However, we had the difficult problem of receiving the reflected ultrasonic wave from the inside of a test specimen. We tried to improve the trial inspection system using an acoustic horn. An experiment in which the temperature of the test block was heated to about 500°C has now been completed. Finally, the condition of the bend in the waveguide to pass without reflection was confirmed.
Cite this paper
Murayama, R. , Kobayashi, M. , Matsumoto, K. and Kobayashi, M. (2014) Ultrasonic Inspection System Using a Long Waveguide with an Acoustic Horn for High-Temperature Structure. Journal of Sensor Technology, 4, 177-185. doi: 10.4236/jst.2014.44017.
Murayama, R. , Kobayashi, M. , Matsumoto, K. and Kobayashi, M. (2014) Ultrasonic Inspection System Using a Long Waveguide with an Acoustic Horn for High-Temperature Structure. Journal of Sensor Technology, 4, 177-185. doi: 10.4236/jst.2014.44017.
References
[1] Tittmann, B.R. (2003) A Novel Technique with a Magnetostrictive Transducer for in Situ Length Monitoring of a Distant Specimen. Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation for Material Science and Industries, 456, 73-78. [2] Tittmann, B.R. and Aslan, M. (1999) Ultrasonic Sensors for High Temperature Applications. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 38, 3011-3013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.38.3011 [3] Thompson, R.B. (1973) A Model for the Electromagnetic Generation and Detection of Rayleigh and Lamb Wave. IEEE Transaction on Sonics and Ultrasonic, 20, 340-346.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/T-SU.1973.29770 [4] Yamasaki, T. (1999) Generation and Detection of Longitudinal Wave in Steel Wires by Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Series A, 65, 1038-1043.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1299/kikaia.65.1038 [5] Hirao, M. and Ogi, H. (2003) EMATS for Science and Industry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Berlin.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3743-1 [6] Ogi, H., Goda, E. and Hirao, M. (2003) Increase of Efficiency of Magnetostriction SH-Wave EMAT by Angled Bias Field. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 42, 3020-3024.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.42.3020 [7] Hirao, M., Ogi, H. and Yasui, H. (2001) Contactless Measurement of Bolt Axial Stress Using a Shear-Wave Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer. NDT & E International, 34, 179-183.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0963-8695(00)00055-4 [8] Hashiba, K. (1994) Power Flow in Solid Horns for Ultrasonics. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Series A, 60, 2871-2876.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1299/kikaia.60.2871
[1] Tittmann, B.R. (2003) A Novel Technique with a Magnetostrictive Transducer for in Situ Length Monitoring of a Distant Specimen. Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation for Material Science and Industries, 456, 73-78. [2] Tittmann, B.R. and Aslan, M. (1999) Ultrasonic Sensors for High Temperature Applications. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 38, 3011-3013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.38.3011 [3] Thompson, R.B. (1973) A Model for the Electromagnetic Generation and Detection of Rayleigh and Lamb Wave. IEEE Transaction on Sonics and Ultrasonic, 20, 340-346.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/T-SU.1973.29770 [4] Yamasaki, T. (1999) Generation and Detection of Longitudinal Wave in Steel Wires by Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Series A, 65, 1038-1043.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1299/kikaia.65.1038 [5] Hirao, M. and Ogi, H. (2003) EMATS for Science and Industry. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Berlin.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3743-1 [6] Ogi, H., Goda, E. and Hirao, M. (2003) Increase of Efficiency of Magnetostriction SH-Wave EMAT by Angled Bias Field. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 42, 3020-3024.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.42.3020 [7] Hirao, M., Ogi, H. and Yasui, H. (2001) Contactless Measurement of Bolt Axial Stress Using a Shear-Wave Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducer. NDT & E International, 34, 179-183.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0963-8695(00)00055-4 [8] Hashiba, K. (1994) Power Flow in Solid Horns for Ultrasonics. Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Series A, 60, 2871-2876.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1299/kikaia.60.2871