Progress implementing a model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm for ultrasound imaging of thick concrete

Hani Almansouri, Christi Johnson, Dwight Clayton, Yarom Polsky, Charles Bouman, Hector Santos-Villalobos

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

All commercial nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the United States contain concrete structures. These structures provide important foundation, support, shielding, and containment functions. Identification and management of aging and the degradation of concrete structures is fundamental to the proposed long-term operation of NPPs. Concrete structures in NPPs are often inaccessible and contain large volumes of massively thick concrete. While acoustic imaging using the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) works adequately well for thin specimens of concrete such as concrete transportation structures, enhancements are needed for heavily reinforced, thick concrete. We argue that image reconstruction quality for acoustic imaging in thick concrete could be improved with Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) techniques. MBIR works by designing a probabilistic model for the measurements (forward model) and a probabilistic model for the object (prior model). Both models are used to formulate an objective function (cost function). The final step in MBIR is to optimize the cost function. Previously, we have demonstrated a first implementation of MBIR for an ultrasonic transducer array system. The original forward model has been upgraded to account for direct arrival signal. Updates to the forward model will be documented and the new algorithm will be assessed with synthetic and empirical samples.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication43rd Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Volume 36
EditorsLeonard J. Bond, Dale E. Chimenti
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9780735414747
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 16 2017
Event43rd Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, QNDE 2016 - Atlanta, United States
Duration: Jul 17 2016Jul 22 2016

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1806
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

Conference43rd Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, QNDE 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityAtlanta
Period07/17/1607/22/16

Funding

The work is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's staff office of the Under Secretary for Science and Energy under the Subsurface Technology and Engineering Research, Development, and Demonstration (SubTER) Crosscut program, and the office of Nuclear Energy under the Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program. The authors would like to acknowledge the generous support of the U.S. Department of Energy.

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