Characterization of Cracks From Ultrasonic Scattering Data

Abstract

An inverse method for ultrasonic scattering data is proposed, to characterize a planar crack of general shape contained in an elastic solid. The method is based on an integral representation for the scattered field in the frequency domain. For a given scattered field the inverse problem has been formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem. At low frequencies its solution gives the location of the crack, the orientation of the crack-plane, and the crack-opening volumes. In addition the Mode I stress-intensity factor is obtained for a related static stress state corresponding to service loads.