Feature mapping of Y-shaped cracks using a ray-tracing interpretation

• Published in: Ultrasonics Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 215 - 220
• Main Authors: Ngoc, T.D.K., Ng, K.W., Mayer, W.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.1987; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: cracks; Exact sciences and technology; feature mapping; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Measurement and testing methods; NDE; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; feature mapping; cracks; NDE; Ray tracing; Nondestructive test; Ultrasound; Crack
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/0041-624X(87)90036-9

It was demonstrated experimentally that a ray-tracing interpretation can be used to quantitatively characterize Y-shaped cracks in stainless steel. A shear wave beam of frequency 2.25 MHz was launched at an angle of 45° in the isotropic stainless steel samples. A series of smooth-sided cracks, in three shapes, progressing from a vertical crack to a Y-shaped one, were machined in the samples. The application of a simplified ray-tracing description led to the identification of the principal ray paths for reflection from key features of these cracks. From the echo arrival time and amplitude data the dimension and position of these crack features could be determined and an outline of the cracks was obtained. In general, the results derived from these echo data compared very well with actual crack measurements.