Detecting the thickness mode frequency in a concrete plate using backward wave propagation

Material stiffness and plate thickness are the two key parameters when performing quality assurance/quality control on pavement structures. In order to estimate the plate thickness non-destructively, the Impact Echo (IE) method can be utilized to extract the thickness resonance frequency. An alternative to IE for estimating the thickness resonance frequency of a concrete plate, and to subsequently enable thickness determination, is presented in this paper. The thickness resonance is often revealed as a sharp peak in the frequency spectrum when contact receivers are used in seismic testing. Due to a low signal-to-noise ratio, IE is not ideal when using non-contact microphone receivers. In studying the complex Lamb wave dispersion curves at a frequency infinitesimally higher than the thickness frequency, it is seen that two counter-directed waves occur at the same frequency but with phase velocities in opposite directions. Results show that it is possible to detect the wave traveling with a negative phase velocity using both accelerometers and air-coupled microphones as receivers. This alternative technique can possibly be used in non-contact scanning measurements based on air-coupled microphones.