Low-frequency ultrasonic array imaging for detecting concrete structural defects in blind zones

Ultrasonic array (UA) imaging is a promising non-destructive testing (NDT) method that is extensively used for defect detection. Due to the high attenuation characteristics of ultrasonic wave propagation in concrete structures and the directivity of sensors, the total focus method (TFM) easily misses specific defects in blind zones that are far from the sensors or located at a large deflection angle. To overcome this limitation, the diffusion attenuation compensation factor and solid directivity correction factor are adopted to improve the scattered signal energy of defects that are in blind zones. On this basis, the diffusion attenuation compensation method (DACM), the solid directivity correction method (SDCM), and the diffusion attenuation compensation-based solid directivity correction method (DAC-SDCM) are proposed. These methods are applied to characterize multiple circular holes in concrete structures using the dry point contact (DPC) low-frequency UA, and the detection results are evaluated from the intensity curve and detection area of ultrasonic images. The numerical and experimental results indicate that DACM is suitable for detecting defects located at longer distances, SDCM is capable of detecting defects located at larger deflection angles, and DAC-SDCM can significantly improve the detection performance of defects that are distant and have large deflection angles. The findings demonstrate that the proposed methods can significantly improve the detection ability of defects in blind zones and broaden the application of DPC low-frequency UA in the health monitoring of concrete structures.