A facet ensemble approach for evaluation of array performance in ultrasonic NDE

The operational features of a complex simulation model for the generation of synthetic data in ultrasonic array NDE (nondestructive evaluation) applications are described. In the proposed model, the scattering surfaces are constructed from an ensemble of planar strips or facets, each with a closed-form p-wave scattering solution. To illustrate the model, a range of simulation results concerning the transient imaging of a triangular crack in a solid medium is presented. The influence of element spacing and center frequency is also considered in conjunction with aperture size, defect orientation, and surface roughness. Sufficiently good agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained to validate the approach for time-domain imaging applications