Moura,M., Carvalho,M., Ferreira,G.
Abstract:
In the process of creating digital images of concrete, wave propagation can be used to generate a suitable inner representation of this element, producing an ultrasonic tomography. Although tomography devices are efficient in generating images, they are high-cost and not very accessible. On the other hand, images obtained through ultrasound tests allow identifying the presence of flaws in different types of materials at lower costs. In ultrasonic tests, ultrasonic wave velocity paths are generated from different measurement points. Thus, in order to improve the data range, interpolation techniques can be used to estimate the acoustic velocity at the unmeasured test points, completing the image creation process. This work aims to evaluate the influence on the quality of the generated image of (1) the spatial resolution and (2) the number of measurement points in the ultrasonic test. Experiments were carried out using Inverse Distance Weighting interpolation technique and ultrasonic tomography on concrete beams with and without flaws. The resulting images indicated the importance of the appropriate choice of number and arrangement of measuring points in the ultrasonic test to properly detect internal flaws. In addition, we verify that a higher spatial resolution may also interfere in the identification of internal flaws in the image.