Methods for improving the quality of ultrasonic images based on the phase of the signals and digital signal processing

• Grant number: 14/08790-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Electrical, Magnetic and Electronic Measurements, Instrumentation
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Tokio Higuti
• Grantee: Vander Teixeira Prado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work is to consolidate the research on beamforming for ultrasonic non-destructive testing at the Laboratory of Ultrasound of the Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira - UNESP. The emphasis will be on techniques using digital signal processing and the phase of the signals as additional information to the amplitude by theoretical analysis, simulation and experimental validation. The scientific work includes the study of methods to improve the estimation of the instantaneous phase at low signal-to-noise ratio conditions as well as the use of phase/frequency modulation to make the method more immune to noise, in order to detect defects located far from the array and decrease image artifacts. The technique will be applied to isotropic materials, to improve the results obtained in the PhD, and anisotropic ones, where improvements in the technique will be considered for each particular problem. Granular materials and the possibility of adapt the technique for defects characterization are also of interest. The images obtained in the literature for anisotropic plates and other materials, that could be of interest to the aerospace and energy industries, have limited qualities, justifying investments in researches in this field. There is a plan to make a research internship abroad, with contacts made during the doctorade. There will be collaboration of undergraduate, master and doctorate students.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TAKIY, ALINE E.; KITANO, CLAUDIO; HIGUTI, RICARDO T.; GRANJA, SILVIO C. G.; PRADO, VANDER T.; ELVIRA, LUIS; MARTINEZ-GRAULLERA, OSCAR. Ultrasound imaging of immersed plates using high-order Lamb modes at their low attenuation frequency bands. MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, v. 96, p. 321-332, NOV 2017. (14/08790-3)

PRADO, VANDER TEIXEIRA; GARCIA GRANJA, SILVIO CESAR; HIGUTI, RICARDO TOKIO; KITANO, CLAUDIO; MARTINEZ-GRAULLERA, OSCAR; ELVIRA SEGURA, LUIS. Defect Detection in Anisotropic Plates Based on the Instantaneous Phase of Signals. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS FERROELECTRICS AND FREQUENCY CONTROL, v. 62, n. 10, p. 1888-1894, OCT 2015. (14/08790-3)

PRADO, VANDER TEIXEIRA; HIGUTI, RICARDO TOKIO; IEEE. Ultrasonic Image Compounding Method Based on the Instantaneous Phase Image. 2016 12TH IEEE/IAS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS (INDUSCON), v. N/A, p. 8-pg., 2016-01-01. (14/08790-3, 10/16400-0, 10/02240-0, 13/00330-0)