Ultrasonic imaging of structural damages using integrated sensor signals

This paper presents an approach for detecting and imaging multiple cracks in plane elastic media using surface signals induced by dynamic excitation. The focus of this study is to develop a quantitative understanding of the relation between surface signals and the location and characteristics of embedded cracks. Surface displacements are used as boundary conditions to induce a reverse wave propagation, from which the sizes, shapes and positions of existing cracks can be determined. Finite element method is used to treat both the direct and inverse plane elastodynamic problems. Typical numerical simulation results are presented to show the feasibility and accuracy of the current method for identifying crack sizes and positions.