Guided ultrasonic wave technique for corrosion monitoring and thickness variability analysis

Beata Zima

doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2024.116584

Guided ultrasonic wave technique for corrosion monitoring and thickness variability analysis

Abstract

Corrosion degradation poses a significant challenge to the structural integrity of industrial components, especially in critical sectors such as oil and gas, marine, and energy. This paper presents a novel approach to assessing corrosion damage using guided ultrasonic waves (GUWs), focusing on the statistical characterization of thickness variability in corroded plates. A combined algorithm is developed to estimate key statistical parameters, such as mean thickness and standard deviation, which describe the geometry of plates affected by corrosion. The study integrates theoretical analysis, experimental tests, and numerical simulations using Abaqus/Explicit to model plates with irregular thickness, employing random field methods to simulate surface roughness caused by corrosion. Experimental validation was conducted on steel plates subjected to accelerated corrosion tests, and guided waves were used to evaluate thickness variations along different propagation paths. The results demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method in estimating the key geometrical parameters of corroded plates, even in the presence of complex surface degradation. This approach offers a significant improvement in the non-destructive testing of structural elements and can be an alternative to standard ultrasonic gauge measurement.