UNIVERSITY OF TECHNICAL MALAYSIA MALACCA

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

PLANT MAINTENANCE LABORATORY 2 - BMCP 3921

FULL REPORT
STURCTURE HEATLTH MONITORING (SHM)

GROUP D/ 3BMCL
JONG NYET NYET/B041210004

LECTURER: DR.NOR SALIM

TITLE
Structure Health Monitoring On Large Structure
OBJECTIVES
1. To design an inspection technique to obtain the information of defects in a test plate.
2. To determine the location of the defects from a specific reference on the plate.
3. To determine the size and residual thickness of the defect in the plate.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Structural health monitoring is able to monitor structural integrity of complex structures

continuously. One of the inspection techniques is using the Ultrasonic Guided Wave
inspection that is used in natural wave guided structures such as plates, multilayer structure,
rods, piping and tubing. Guided Waves refer to mechanical waves in ultrasonic and sonic
frequencies that propagate in a bounded medium parallel to the guided because it travels
along the medium guided by the geometries boundaries of the medium.
A principal advantage of guided waves is inspection over long distances with great
sensitivity from a single probe position. Furthermore, it can inspect hidden structures and
under water structures, insulation, and concrete structures [1].
All though guided wave testing is also known as Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing, it is
basically very different from conventional ultrasonic testing. Guided wave testing uses very
low ultrasonic frequencies compared to those used in conventional one, typically between 10100 kHz. Higher frequencies will result detection range is very much reduced [2]. Guided
waves can detect the defects by having reflection when the waves reach the defect area. This
will result in deflection in the waveform.

Transmitter &
Receiver

Defect
s
Guided
Waves

Figure 1: Guide Waves Propagation

The plate with defects was given in this experiment, which there was a cut at the plate.
Hence, inspection techniques need to be done. Besides that, in this experiment, to detect
location and severity defect on structure, vibration sources are required to produce. Vibration
based monitoring refers to the use of non-destructive sensing and analysis of system
characteristic such as time, frequency or modal domains for the purpose of detecting changes
which may indicate damage or degradation.
This is the case to obtain the relationship between defect and vibration. The higher the
depth of cutting on the plates the defect is more critical. Besides that, the vibration and
amplitude will decreases due to the increases of depth because the signal will be lost to
plates edge.
However, the waves can propagate in many number of directions in a plate, this is
illustrated schematically in Figure 2 which shows an array testing a simple plate. A large echo
will be received from the edge of the plate if a wave is sent from the array in the direction
normal to the edge. Unless waves coming from the direction of the edge are eliminated by the
signal processing, there is a danger that 'ghost' reflections will be produced that apparently
come from other directions, and may be misinterpreted as defects [3].

Figure 2 : Ghost Deflection [3].

DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT

The experiment is design with the used of Ultrasonic Guided Waves

Inspection technique. The first step is to find the location of the defects by transmitting
guided waves on each straight section on the plate. The reflected waves form will be analyzed
for the speed of the waves and location of the waves. This requires the apparatus such as the
Function generator, low-noise preamplifier, high speed amplifier, metal plate, transmitter
sensor, receiver sensor, and computer.

Figure 3: Guided Waves Propagation Direction

Then, after indentifying the location of the defects, the size of the defects can be
measured by using a pulse receiving and a probe transducer. The peaks of the waveform can
be examined to check the residual thickness of the defects.

Figure 4: Defects Sizing

Figure 5: Set Up To Find Location Of Defects.

Figure 6: Defects Sizing Experimental Set Up

Experiment Procedure
This experiment will conducted on plates with an unknown defect location and size.
The procedure of the experiment is as follows;
1. All the equipment includes Function generator, low-noise preamplifier, high speed
amplifier, metal plate, transmitter sensor, receiver sensor, and computer was setup
as in Figure 5.
2. Location of the transmitter and receiver were set on the plate.
3. The transmitter was switched on to transmit waves and the wave forms are
recorded.
4. The location of the defects was recorded by observing the waveform where the
peak of S0 is observed.
5. The data file was saved.

6. The plate was then examined for defects sizing using 5 Mhz Dual probe
transducer and Ultrasonic pulse receiver,
7. The peak to peak from initial wave is recorded as the residual thickness and the
area of the defects was located and recorded by repeating step 5.

MEASURED PARAMETER
i.

Vibration
This parameter was measured when the transmitter transmit the guided
wave to the end of the plate and received by the receiver arranged in a straight
line. The vibration was in form of wave where the signal is on the

ii.

oscilloscope.
Velocity of waveform
The velocity of the waveform can be measured and calculated by using

iii.

the distance travelled by the wave divided by the time taken.

Location of defect
The location of the defects in the aluminum plate is described as
unknown, so by observing from amplitude of wave displayed to identify it. S0

iv.

v.

peak is observed.
Defect size
Amplitude from peak to peak in the amplitude against range graph will
show the defect residual thickness.
Amplitude
Both residual thickness and defect location is determined by observing
the amplitude of waveform.

SENSORS AND INSTRUMENTATIONS

Table 1.0: Instruments

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No
.
1.

Instruments

No

.
500 mm x 1000 mm x 6 mm Metal Plate 5.

Instruments
PC Set

with Transmitter and Receiver

2.

High Speed Amplifier

6.

5Mhz Dual Probe

3.

Function Generator

7.

Ultrasonic Couplant

4.

Low Noise Preamplifier

8.

Ultrasonic Pulse Receiver

SIGNAL ANALYSIS

Signal analysis used in the experiment is Guided Wave Analysis. The first part will
use the wave form to identify the location of the defects by observing the amplitude of the
wave form transmitted across the plate. Defects will cause a peak in the wave form shown.

Figure 7: Defects Location Analysis

Then, using the transducer, the size of the residual thickness can be located and
measured using a pulse receiver as shown by the figure below. Ep is the thickness of the plate
without defects and D is the thickness of the residual. This can be measured by calculating
the peak to peak distance of the wave form.

Figure 8: Defects Sizing

DATA ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

The set up of transmitter and receiver were as in Figure 9. 2x is the travel distance of
the guided wave from datum to the defects and back.
Aluminum
Plate
Defects
Transmitter
500
mm

Receiver
x

Figure 9: Set up on Aluminum Plate

The defects locating process was done using the instruments as mentioned in sensors
and instruments section. The wave form obtained was as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: Guided Wave Test Result

The parameters used were
Frequency [kHz] = 100 Hz
Sampling Rate = 10 MS/s
Excitation Voltage [VPP] = 1.0
Record Length = 1 ms
Num of Cycle = 5
Num of Avg = 1
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High Bandpass [kHz] = 50 kHz

Low Bandpass [kHz] = 250 kHz

Figure 11: Amplitude vs Time

After analyzing the wave form obtained, time when S 0 was recorded was located at
373.967 micro seconds. In order to find the distance of the defect, the group velocity of the
wave travelling in the Aluminum plate was indentified using the dispersion curve as in Figure
12.

Figure 12: Group Velocity Dispersion Curve for Aluminum [4]

From the dispersion curve, the velocity obtained was 5200 m/s for the 100 KHz used.
Thus,
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Velocity Time=Distance travelled by Guided Wave , 2 x

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5200 373.967 10 =1.945 m=2 x

x= 0.97 m

Thus, the defects sizing process was done to at the distance around 0.97 from datum.
However, the results showed that the defects located at a slightly different location. Figure 13
showed the wave form when the probe detect the proper real thickness of 6 mm while Figure
14 was at the defects location with thickness around 4 mm.

Figure 13: Thickness without defect

Figure 14: Thickness with defects

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Figure 15: Defects Area

1000 mm

30 mm
500
mm

155
mm

795
mm

170
mm

Figure 16: Defects Size

After continuously repeating the procedures, the area of the defect was identified as
shown in Figure 16. However, the distance of the defects from the datum was slightly shorter
than predicted in the first section. This might be caused by errors such as echo from the plate
and human error.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the Guided wave method proved to be a new and efficient technique to
obtain the information of defects in a test plate. First it can determine the location of the
defects from a specific reference on the plate before the size and residual thickness of the
defect in the plate can also be determined. This technique proved to be very useful for
engineers to indentify defect without causing destruction to structure and can eliminate
potential damage to structure at early stage.
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REFERENCES

[1] Cawley, P. (2004). Practical Long Range Guided Wave Inspection - Managing
Complexity. Mechanical Engineering NDT Journal, 13-20.
[2] L.Rose, J. (2004). Ultrasonic Guided Waves in Sturctural Health Monitoring. Mechanical
Engineering Journal, 14-21.
[3] Non Destructive Evaluation. (n.d.). Retrieved from Imperial College London:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/nde/researchthemes/inspection/guidedultrasonicwaves
[4] L.Draudviliene, L.Mazeika. (2011). Measurement of the group velocity of Lamb Waves in
aluminum Plate using Spectrum Decomposition Technique. Ultrasound, 34-39.

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