Accelerated discrete Gaussian beam model for simulating the water-immersion phased array ultrasonic field

Area of Science:

• Non-destructive testing
• Ultrasonic phased array
• Acoustic field simulation

Background:

• Phased array ultrasonics enable flexible beam generation for complex component inspection.
• Accurate simulation is crucial for designing inspection parameters but existing models lack a balance between accuracy and efficiency.
• The multi-Gaussian beam (MGB) model is efficient but less accurate, while the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral (RSI) model is accurate but inefficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an accelerated discrete Gaussian beam (ADGB) semi-analytical model for accurate and efficient ultrasonic field simulation.
• To overcome the limitations of existing models in simulating steered and focused beams.
• To achieve a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency in phased array ultrasonic field modeling.

Main Methods:

• Developed an accelerated discrete Gaussian beam (ADGB) semi-analytical model.
• Superposed Gaussian beams from discrete transducer segments, ensuring field points stay within paraxial zones.
• Reduced computation by sharing central propagation rays for adjacent field points based on Gaussian beam theory.

Main Results:

• The ADGB model achieved high accuracy and efficiency in simulating phased array ultrasonic fields.
• Simulations demonstrated ADGB accuracy comparable to the RSI model.
• ADGB demonstrated over 14 times greater efficiency than existing models.
• ADGB results, including attenuation, showed excellent agreement with experimental data.

Conclusions:

• The proposed ADGB model provides an effective solution for accurate and efficient ultrasonic field simulation in phased array non-destructive testing.
• The model's ability to balance accuracy and efficiency makes it suitable for complex component inspections.
• Experimental validation confirms the ADGB model's effectiveness and reliability for real-world applications.