Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique
Traditional techniques for detecting internal defects in concrete are limited by the weak directivity of ultrasonic waves, significant signal attenuation, and low imaging contrast. This paper presents an improved synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) enhanced by the Delay Multiply and Sum (DM...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1887 |
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| author | Feng Li Sheng-Kui Di Jing Zhang Dong Yang Yao Pei Xiao-Ying Wang |
| author_facet | Feng Li Sheng-Kui Di Jing Zhang Dong Yang Yao Pei Xiao-Ying Wang |
| author_sort | Feng Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Traditional techniques for detecting internal defects in concrete are limited by the weak directivity of ultrasonic waves, significant signal attenuation, and low imaging contrast. This paper presents an improved synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) enhanced by the Delay Multiply and Sum (DMAS) algorithm to address these limitations and improve both the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. The proposed method sequentially transmits and receives ultrasonic waves through an array of transducers, and applies DMAS-based nonlinear beam-forming to enhance image sharpness and contrast. Its effectiveness was validated through finite element simulations and experimental tests using three precast concrete specimens with artificial defects (specimen size: 240 mm × 300 mm × 100 mm). Compared with the conventional SAFT, the proposed method improves image contrast by approximately 40%, with clearer defect boundaries and a vertical positioning error of less than ±5 mm. This demonstrates the method’s promising potential for practical applications in internal defect visualization of concrete structures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48031e6fb2c74b3681c8a2b78a6a7171 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-48031e6fb2c74b3681c8a2b78a6a71712025-08-20T03:11:18ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-011511188710.3390/buildings15111887Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing TechniqueFeng Li0Sheng-Kui Di1Jing Zhang2Dong Yang3Yao Pei4Xiao-Ying Wang5School of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaCollege of Civil Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, ChinaEarthquake Engineering Research & Test Center (EERTC), Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510405, ChinaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, ChinaGansu Wantai Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., Lanzhou 730030, ChinaTraditional techniques for detecting internal defects in concrete are limited by the weak directivity of ultrasonic waves, significant signal attenuation, and low imaging contrast. This paper presents an improved synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) enhanced by the Delay Multiply and Sum (DMAS) algorithm to address these limitations and improve both the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. The proposed method sequentially transmits and receives ultrasonic waves through an array of transducers, and applies DMAS-based nonlinear beam-forming to enhance image sharpness and contrast. Its effectiveness was validated through finite element simulations and experimental tests using three precast concrete specimens with artificial defects (specimen size: 240 mm × 300 mm × 100 mm). Compared with the conventional SAFT, the proposed method improves image contrast by approximately 40%, with clearer defect boundaries and a vertical positioning error of less than ±5 mm. This demonstrates the method’s promising potential for practical applications in internal defect visualization of concrete structures.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1887synthetic aperture focusing techniquedelay multiply and sumconcrete internal-defect imagingsensor arraynon-destructive testing |
| spellingShingle | Feng Li Sheng-Kui Di Jing Zhang Dong Yang Yao Pei Xiao-Ying Wang Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique Buildings synthetic aperture focusing technique delay multiply and sum concrete internal-defect imaging sensor array non-destructive testing |
| title | Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique |
| title_full | Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique |
| title_short | Detection of Internal Defects in Concrete Using Delay Multiply and Sum-Enhanced Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique |
| title_sort | detection of internal defects in concrete using delay multiply and sum enhanced synthetic aperture focusing technique |
| topic | synthetic aperture focusing technique delay multiply and sum concrete internal-defect imaging sensor array non-destructive testing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1887 |
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