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Updated: May 15, 2026
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Active Probe Atomic Force Microscopy with Quattro-Parallel Cantilever Arrays for High-Throughput Large-Scale Sample Inspection
Published on: June 13, 2023
A macroscopic non-destructive testing system based on the cantilever-sample contact resonance
Ji Fu1, Lizhi Lin, Xilong Zhou
1State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|January 3, 2013
Summary
This study introduces a new macroscopic nondestructive testing (NDT) system using contact resonance to detect internal material stiffness variations. The system successfully identified defects beneath an opaque panel, demonstrating its effectiveness for structural inspection.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nondestructive Testing
Background:
- Detecting internal or buried defects in materials and structures presents a significant challenge in nondestructive testing (NDT).
- Existing methods like atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM) have limitations, particularly in stability and suitability for outdoor applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and validate a novel macroscopic NDT system for detecting local stiffness variations in materials and structures.
- To adapt principles of contact resonance force microscopy for a larger-scale, more robust system.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a piezoelectric unimorph as a macroscopic cantilever.
- Driving cantilever vibration and detecting signals using a strain gauge for enhanced stability.
- Implementing a scanning system with controlled pressing force and LabVIEW-based software control.
- Operating in single-frequency and resonance-tracking modes, utilizing contact resonance frequency and beam dynamics for stiffness calculation.
Main Results:
- The system successfully detected prefabricated defects beneath an opaque panel in both single-frequency and resonance-tracking modes.
- Internal grid structures were clearly visualized, confirming the system's capability to map subsurface features.
- The system demonstrated validity and potential for examining material stiffness variations.
Conclusions:
- The developed macroscopic NDT system effectively detects local stiffness variations and subsurface defects.
- The use of a strain gauge provides superior stability for outdoor NDT applications compared to laser sensors.
- This system offers a promising advancement in nondestructive testing for materials and structures.
