Quantitative evaluation of interfacial layer properties in bimetallic composite circular tubes using bounded ultrasonic beam scattering methodology

Abstract

Bimetallic composite circular tubes are widely acknowledged as promising candidates for future applications in pipeline engineering, owing to their blend of high performance, lightweight properties, and cost-effectiveness. However, during the engineering application of bimetallic composite circular tubes, the interface state between the cladding and substrate tubes undergoes changes. This paper presents a novel ultrasonic detection methodology for quantitatively assessing interfacial layer mechanical properties in bimetallic composite circular tubes. Our approach unveils distinct scattering patterns displayed by a bounded ultrasonic beam when interacting with these composite tubes featuring interfaces. Through finite element simulations and experimental measurements, we illustrate that when the bounded ultrasonic beam impinges obliquely upon the composite tube at a specific critical angle, the sound pressure amplitude of the scattered field shows significant variations corresponding to different levels of mechanical properties of the adhesive layer. In contrast, minor changes are observed at non-critical incident angles. Our method demonstrates remarkable effectiveness in detecting the mechanical properties of the adhesive layer. Compared to conventional ultrasonic inspection techniques, our approach provides exceptional sensitivity and stability in quantitatively evaluating the changes of interfacial layer properties, thus representing a valuable addition to non-destructive testing methods for composite structures.