Acoustic Emission Tomography Reliability Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current structure evaluation systems using acoustic emission tomography face accuracy issues due to measurement errors, leading to unreliable deterioration state assessments of structures like bridges.
Innovation Solution
A structure evaluation system comprising multiple sensors, an arrival time determiner, a reliability calculator, and a map generator that detects elastic waves, determines arrival times, calculates reliability based on these times, and generates error maps to improve assessment accuracy by identifying potential measurement errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If AE tomography is used to evaluate structure deterioration, then non-destructive examination capability is provided, but measurement errors reduce evaluation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by calculating reliability values based on arrival time differences and using these reliability values to weight the contribution of each sensor pair in the tomography reconstruction. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust the influence of measurements based on their estimated accuracy, thereby improving overall evaluation reliability despite individual measurement errors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of measurement weighting by introducing reliability-based weights in the tomography calculation. Instead of treating all sensor measurements equally, the system modifies the effective parameter values (arrival times) by applying weights derived from reliability calculations, which accounts for measurement quality variations and improves evaluation accuracy
2Area of stationary object
If multiple sensors are deployed for AE tomography, then coverage area is increased, but sensor adhesion quality varies causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by calculating separate reliability values for each sensor pair based on their specific arrival time differences and adhesion conditions. Instead of assuming uniform measurement quality across all sensors, the system evaluates and weights each local measurement according to its specific reliability, thereby compensating for varying adhesion qualities across different measurement locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by calculating reliability values for all sensor pairs before conducting the final tomography reconstruction. This preliminary assessment of measurement quality allows the system to pre-weight the data, ensuring that unreliable measurements from poorly adhered sensors have minimal impact on the final evaluation results
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances the accuracy of structure deterioration assessments by identifying and mitigating errors, such as poor sensor adhesion, thereby providing reliable evaluation results.
Implementation Method 1
a technology for detecting damage to a structure using an acoustic emission (AE) method in which elastic waves generated due to occurrence of internal cracks or progress of internal cracks are detected by a highly sensitive sensor
Implementation Method 2
AE signals are detected as a sign before fracture of materials occurs. Therefore, generation frequencies and signal intensities of AE signals are useful as indexes indicating the soundness of materials. For this reason, research is being conducted on a technology for detecting signs of deterioration in a structure using the AE method.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a structure evaluation system of the embodiments includes a plurality of sensors, an arrival time determiner, a reliability calculator, and a map generator. The plurality of sensors detect elastic waves. The arrival time determiner determines arrival times of the elastic waves using elastic waves detected by the plurality of respective sensors. The reliability calculator calculates reliabilities related to measurement waveforms of the elastic waves on the basis of the arrival times. The map generator generates a first map on the basis of the calculated reliabilities or the reliabilities and a distance.