An Improved Plane Wave Ultrasonic Array Imaging Algorithm for Damage Identification in Concrete Structures

Abstract

Internal damage imaging in concrete structures has consistently presented significant challenges as a complex multi-component material. To enhance the accuracy and efficiency of internal damage identification in concrete structures, an improved plane wave imaging technique based on the wavenumber algorithm is proposed in the paper. The introduction of the wavenumber algorithm provides a mathematical solution to the inverse problem for the assumed forward wave propagation model, which is more rigorous than the ray-based theory in mathematics. By comparing with the total focusing method and the conventional plane wave imaging technique, the proposed imaging technique exhibits significant advantages in imaging different types of damage in concrete structures. Subsequently, the 3D damage state of the simulated reinforcement steel debonding in concrete structures was reconstructed employing the proposed imaging technique. The enhanced imaging efficiency and optimized imaging quality settled the proposed imaging technique a promising candidate for future damage identification of concrete structures.

Keywords: concrete structures, damage identification, plane-wave imaging, ultrasonic phased array, wavenumber algorithm