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Review recent developments in photoacoustic imaging and sensing for nondestructive testing and evaluation
Sung-Liang Chen1,2,3, Chao Tian4
1University of Michigan-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240, Shanghai, China. sungliang.chen@sjtu.edu.cn.
Visual Computing for Industry, Biomedicine, and Art
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Photoacoustic (PA) technology, utilizing lasers for wave excitation, offers advanced nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT/E). This versatile method enables detailed imaging and defect detection across various industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Engineering
Background:
- Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a well-established technique in biomedical research.
- Its potential for industrial applications, particularly in nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT/E), is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the fundamental principles of PA technology tailored for NDT/E.
- To review recent advancements and diverse applications of PA in NDT/E.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing modulated continuous-wave and pulsed lasers for PA wave excitation.
- Exploring PA-generated ultrasonic waves and all-optical excitation/detection methods.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful imaging of railway cracks and defects.
- Enabled visualization of Li metal batteries and detection of defects in silicon wafers.
- Facilitated measurements of material porosity and Young's modulus, and visualization of underdrawings in paintings.
Conclusions:
- PA technology provides a powerful, non-invasive tool for NDT/E.
- Its broad applicability spans from infrastructure integrity to advanced material characterization.
