Numerical simulation and experiment for inspection of corner-shaped components using ultrasonic phased array

Abstract This paper proposes an effective method for corner-shaped components inspection using ultrasonic phased array. We first improved the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method by way of averaging properly the different ultrasonic parameters of media on the both sides of interface to simulate ultrasonic wave propagation in dual-layered media. Then, an inspection method for corner-shaped structures using ultrasonic phased array and an iterative calculation approach of delay time based on Snell׳s law for complicated geometries were put forward and described in detail. Experiments on an aluminum alloy 2014 sample were conducted to validate the modeling results and the inspection method. Finally, practical application was carried out to image and size the defect in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) corner-shaped specimen, yielding experiment results that are in good quantitative agreement with the true values.