STTR Phase I: High Temperature Sensing System for Ultrasonic Monitoring of Critical Energy Infrastructure

这项STTR第一阶段研究计划将开发在高温和恶劣的操作环境下持续监测局部和大面积厚度的方法。这将通过超声波测量瞬时温度、通过自校准厚度测量来补偿温度变化、通过坚固的传感器连接方法、通过用于大范围询问的长延迟线在管道或容器中产生合适的导波模式以及通过开发将导波信号的变化与厚度变化相关联的信号处理方法来实现。持续监测关键结构的完整性是一个雄心勃勃的目标，但在许多应用中尚未实现。拟议工作的主要更广泛影响是在加强我国能源基础设施绩效的背景下，在实现这一目标方面迈出重要一步。建议的监测方法具有广泛的适用性，不仅适用于高温应用，而且适用于任何恶劣环境(如核能、液化天然气、航天器)和具有无法进入的区域且无法拆卸进行检查的结构。

This STTR Phase I research proposal will develop the means to continuously monitor local and large area thicknesses at high temperatures and harsh operating environments. This will be accomplished by the ultrasonic measurement of instantaneous temperature, by self-calibrating thickness measurements to compensate for temperature variations, by robust sensor attachment methods, by generation of suitable guided wave modes in a pipe or vessel via long delay lines for interrogation of large areas, and by developing signal processing methods for relating changes in guided wave signals to thickness variations. Continuous monitoring of the integrity of critical structures is an ambitious goal which has not yet been achieved for many applications. The primary broader impact of the proposed work is to take a significant step in achieving that goal in the context of enhancing the performance of our nation's energy infrastructure. The proposed monitoring method has broad applicability, not just for high temperature applications but also for any harsh environment (e.g., nuclear, liquid natural gas, space vehicles) and for structures which have inaccessible areas and cannot be disassembled for inspection.