Two-Dimensional Arrays for the Quantitative Characterisation of Complex Defects

近年来，人们对无损检测阵列的兴趣迅速增加。它们的优点包括灵活性增加，因为一个阵列探头可以进行多次检查，提高了成像速度，并增加了给定位置的覆盖范围。然而，目前的无损检测系统主要利用一维（1D）阵列，因此仅限于获得二维（2D）图像。二维阵列提供了三维成像的潜力。这有明显的好处，因为真正的缺陷和工程结构是三维的/例如，焊接中的裂纹和夹杂物等缺陷是任意形状的，可以在任意方向发生。二维阵列能够从一系列角度“观察”给定的缺陷，从而有可能获得远远超出目前可实现的特征细节。然而，目前有许多障碍阻碍了二维阵列在无损检测中的应用。首先，二维阵列应该如何设计，使元素数量足够少，以实际可行？其次，如何将可能获得的大量数据最小化并加以处理？第三，考虑到这些实际限制，可以实现什么样的成像和表征性能？该项目将通过开发一个建模套件来优化阵列设计，研究一系列数据管理和信号处理技术，以最有效地利用数据，将最新开发的压电和无源材料纳入阵列设计，并优化无损检测的二维阵列制造来解决这些问题。该提案正在英国NDE研究中心提交给目标研究计划，该计划的资金由EPSRC指定用于工业驱动研究。

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the interest in arrays for NDE. Their advantages include increased flexibility, as one array probe can undertake many inspections, increased speed of imaging and increased coverage from a given location. However, current NDE systems utilise mainly 1-Dimensional (1D) arrays and so are limited to obtaining a 2-Dimensional (2D) image. 2D arrays offer the potential to image in all three dimensions. This has clear benefits as real defects and engineering structures are three-dimensional / for example defects such as cracking and inclusions in welds are of arbitrary shape and can occur in arbitrary orientations. 2D arrays are able to 'view' a given defect form a range of angles leading to the possibility of obtaining characterisation detail far beyond what is currently achievable. However there are a number of obstacles currently stifling the application of 2D arrays to NDE. Firstly, how should 2D arrays be designed with a low enough number of elements to be practically viable? Secondly, how should the vast amount of data potentially obtainable be minimised and processed? Thirdly, given these practical limitations, what imaging and characterisation performance can be achieved? This project will address these issues by developing a modelling suite to optimise array design, investigating a range of data management and signal processing techniques to make the most efficient use of the data, incorporating recently developed piezoelectric and passive materials into the array design and optimising 2D array manufacture for NDE. This proposal is being submitted within the UK Research Centre in NDE to the targeted research programme, the funding for which is earmarked by EPSRC for industrially driven research.