A time-domain finite element boundary integration method for ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation

Area of Science:

• Computational Mechanics
• Materials Science
• Nondestructive Evaluation

Background:

• Accurate simulation of elastic wave scattering from complex defects is crucial for effective nondestructive evaluation (NDE).
• Traditional numerical methods can be computationally intensive, especially for complex geometries and time-domain analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel 2-D and 3-D numerical modeling approach for calculating elastic wave scattering signals from complex stress-free defects.
• To enhance the efficiency and accuracy of time-domain ultrasonic NDE simulations in bulk media.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid approach coupling boundary integration with a time-domain finite element (FE) solver was developed.
• This method links a local numerical model for near-field scattering with theoretical formulas for signal postprocessing.
• The boundary integral method was implemented within a commercial FE code and validated against full FE models.

Main Results:

• The coupled model significantly reduces computational effort by minimizing FE monitoring signals and FE calculation regions.
• Validation against full FE models demonstrated the accuracy of the scattering signal calculations.
• The method proved accurate and efficient when applied to real inspection scenarios in both 2-D and 3-D.

Conclusions:

• The proposed hybrid numerical modeling approach offers an accurate and efficient solution for simulating elastic wave scattering from complex defects in NDE.
• This method has the potential to improve defect characterization and reliability in ultrasonic testing applications.