Mode controlled guided wave tomography using annular array transducers for SHM of water loaded plate like structures

Ultrasonic guided wave tomography utilizes an array of permanently mounted transducers to detect and image defects like corrosion, cracks and delamination in structures. It is critical for successful tomography imaging to avoid the influences from external environmental conditions like water loading and changes in temperature. Water loading is particularly challenging as it affects the guided wave propagation in the structure. However, by taking advantage of the physical properties of guided waves it is possible to reduce its effect on the tomography images. Modal points on the dispersion curves can be found that have low out-of-plane displacement in their wave structure and hence no leakage into the liquid on the structure. In this paper, the omnidirectional excitation of desired guided wave modes with annular array transducers is discussed. Guided wave tomography of a steel plate like structure with a corrosion defect is studied under water loading conditions. The influence of water loading is overcome by exciting symmetric guided wave modes (S₁) in the structure. Utilizing guided wave mode control it is shown that the defects in the structure can be easily discriminated from any artifacts in the images due to the liquid layer.