Understanding Fundamentals Of Surface-Bonded Piezoelectric Wafer Transducer For Electromechanical Impedance and Ultrasound Shear Wave Monitoring of Sensitization Corrosion
Abstract
High strength aluminum alloys are widely used as hull materials for high speed ships. Containing high concentration of magnesium, these alloys can develop sensitization corrosions over short period of time when exposed to elevated temperatures. Sensitization corrosions are microscale in size and cover the entire material surface. Being left untreated, sensitization corrosions can eventually cause the alloys to disintegrate. Therefore, it is critical to detect and monitor sensitization corrosions at early development stage. Ultrasound-based nondestructive inspection techniques have been well researched and broadly adopted for damage detection. Unfortunately, most ultrasound testing techniques are only sensitive to damage when it has reached certain size. Monitoring small size damage such as sensitization corrosions requires highly sensitive and robust inspection systems that are currently unavailable. The project goal is to optimize ultrasound transducer design to detect and monitor sensitization corrosions in-situ. The project goal will be achieved by performing fundamental studies of surface bonded piezoelectric wafer transducers (PWaTs), including 1) gaining knowledge about the mechanical properties of adhesives and their effects on the responses of bonded PWaTs; 2) bridging the gap between simulation and experiment; 3) performing physics-based studies to examine the influences of sensitization corrosions on the PWaT electromechanical impedance (EMI); 4) generating ultrasound shear waves using surface-bonded unimorph PWaTs and studying the responses of shear waves to sensitization corrosions; and 5) developing tuning strategies for PWaT arrays to generate pure ultrasound waves. This study will establish new simulation and experiment capabilities that will significantly improve our understandings about the effects of adhesive on the performance of piezoelectric wafer transducers as well as the effects of sensitization corrosions on their EMI signatures. It will also introduce new transducer designs and control strategies that are geared toward increasing our capabilities of detecting and characterizing sensitization corrosions. Such capabilities could lead to a paradigm shift on the maintenance, operation, and safety assurance of navy structures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1810459
Entities
People
- Haiying Huang
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Texas at Arlington