Modeling the Ultrasonic Radiation of a Planar Transducer Through a Plane Fluid—Solid Interface

Three types of transducer beam models are developed for obtaining the bulk waves generated by a plane piston transducer radiating through a planar fluid—solid interface. The first type, called the surface integral model, is based on a Rayleigh—Sommerfeld-like integral that requires a two-dimensional surface integral to be evaluated. The second model, called the boundary diffraction wave (BDW) paraxial model, simplifies the two-dimensional integration of the surface integral model to a one-dimensional line integration. The third type of model, called the edge element model, is shown to be a novel way of efficiently evaluating the two-dimensional surface integration of the surface integral model. The limitations of these models for simulating inspections near critical refracted angles and near the interface are discussed.