A linear model approach for ultrasonic inverse problems with attenuation and dispersion

Area of Science:

• Non-destructive testing
• Ultrasonic wave propagation
• Materials science

Background:

• Ultrasonic inverse problems require accurate data acquisition models.
• Frequency-dependent attenuation and dispersion significantly alter ultrasonic wave propagation.
• Existing models often neglect these wave propagation effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a linear ultrasonic model incorporating attenuation and dispersion.
• To enhance the accuracy of ultrasonic inverse problem solutions.
• To improve the estimation of material properties and defect detection.

Main Methods:

• Discretizing propagation distance to create radiation impulse responses.
• Modeling attenuation using a frequency power law.
• Computing dispersion for physically consistent responses.
• Employing robust estimation methods due to model linearity.

Main Results:

• The proposed model outperforms standard attenuation-free models and other literature models.
• Precise estimation of attenuation coefficient and sound velocity using matched filtering.
• Accurate results for thickness estimation via spike deconvolution.

Conclusions:

• The developed linear model effectively accounts for attenuation and dispersion in ultrasonic data.
• This approach enhances the reliability of ultrasonic non-destructive testing and material characterization.
• The model provides a foundation for more accurate ultrasonic inverse problem solutions.