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At least 649 records · Page 36

Pulsed-Source Interferometry in Acoustic Imaging

A combination of pulsed-source interferometry and acoustic diffraction has been proposed for use in imaging subsurface microscopic defects and other features in such diverse objects as integrated-circuit chips, specimens of materials, and mechanical parts. A specimen to be inspected by this technique would be mounted with its bottom side in contact with an acoustic transducer driven by a continuous-wave acoustic signal at a suitable frequency, which could be as low as a megahertz or as high as a few hundred gigahertz. The top side of the specimen would be coupled to an object that would have a flat (when not vibrating) top surface and that would serve as the acoustical analog of an optical medium (in effect, an acoustical "optic").

Shcheglov, Kirill↗

Simulation of Sound Absorption by Scattering Bodies Treated with Acoustic Liners Using a Time-Domain Boundary Element Method

Reducing aircraft noise is a major objective in the field of computational aeroacoustics. When designing next generation quiet aircraft, it is important to be able to accurately and efficiently predict the acoustic scattering by an aircraft body from a given noise source. Acoustic liners are an effective tool for aircraft noise reduction, and are characterized by a complex valued frequency-dependent impedance, Z(w). Converted into the time-domain using Fourier transforms, an impedance boundary condition can be used to simulate the acoustic wave scattering of geometric bodies treated with acoustic liners. This work uses an admittance boundary condition where the admittance, Y(w), is defined to be the inverse of impedance, i.e., Y(w) = 1/Z(w). An admittance boundary condition will be derived and coupled with a time domain boundary integral equation. The solution will be obtained iteratively using spatial and temporal basis functions and will allow for acoustic scattering problems to be modeled with geometries consisting of both unlined and soft surfaces. Stability will be demonstrated through eigenvalue analysis.

Pizzo, Michelle E.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-36025-DND

Reducing aircraft noise is a major objective in the field of computational aeroacoustics. When designing next generation quiet aircraft, it is important to be able to accurately and efficiently predict the acoustic scattering by an aircraft body from a given noise source. Acoustic liners are an effective tool for achieving aircraft noise reduction and are characterized by a frequency-dependent impedance value. Converted into the time-domain using Fourier transforms, an impedance boundary condition can be used to simulate the acoustic wave scattering by geometric bodies treated with acoustic liners. A broadband impedance model will be discussed in which the liner impedance is specified along a wide range of frequencies. The liner impedance boundary condition will be derived and coupled with a time-domain boundary integral equation to model acoustic scattering by a flat plate consisting of both un-lined and lined surfaces. The scattering solution will be obtained iteratively using both spatial and temporal basis functions and the stability will be demonstrated through eigenvalue analysis.

Michelle E Rodio↗

Investigating the Numerical Stability of Using an Impedance Boundary Condition to Model Broadband Noise Scattering With Acoustic Liners

Reducing aircraft noise is a major objective in the field of computational aeroacoustics. When designing next generation quiet aircraft, it is important to be able to accurately and efficiently predict the acoustic scattering by an aircraft body from a given noise source. Acoustic liners are an effective tool for achieving aircraft noise reduction and are characterized by a frequency-dependent impedance value. Converted into the time-domain using Fourier transforms, an impedance boundary condition can be used to simulate the acoustic wave scattering by geometric bodies treated with acoustic liners. A Broadband Impedance Model will be discussed in which the liner impedance is specified along a wide range of frequencies. The liner impedance boundary condition will be derived and coupled with a time-domain boundary integral equation to model acoustic scattering by a flat plate consisting of both un-lined and lined surfaces. The scattering solution will be obtained iteratively using both spatial and temporal basis functions and the stability will be demonstrated through eigenvalue analysis. Stability will be assessed for its dependence on time step, spatial discretization, as well as temporal basis function order. Both second- and third-order Lagrange temporal basis functions are considered.

acoustics↗

Investigating the Numerical Stability of Using an Impedance Boundary Condition to Model Broadband Noise Scattering With Acoustic Liners

Reducing aircraft noise is a major objective in the field of computational aeroacoustics. When designing next generation quiet aircraft, it is important to be able to accurately and efficiently predict the acoustic scattering by an aircraft body from a given noise source. Acoustic liners are an effective tool for achieving aircraft noise reduction and are characterized by a frequency-dependent impedance value. Converted into the time-domain using Fourier transforms, an impedance boundary condition can be used to simulate the acoustic wave scattering by geometric bodies treated with acoustic liners. A Broadband Impedance Model will be discussed in which the liner impedance is specified along a wide range of frequencies. The liner impedance boundary condition will be derived and coupled with a time-domain boundary integral equation to model acoustic scattering by a flat plate consisting of both un-lined and lined surfaces. The scattering solution will be obtained iteratively using both spatial and temporal basis functions and the stability will be demonstrated through eigenvalue analysis. Stability will be assessed for its dependence on time step, spatial discretization, as well as temporal basis function order. Both second- and third-order Lagrange temporal basis functions are considered.

acoustics↗

Through-Thickness Microstructure Characterization in a Centrifugally Cast Austenitic Stainless Steel Nuclear Reactor Primary Loop Pipe Using Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction

The US code of Federal Regulations mandates regular inspection of centrifugally cast austenitic stainless steel pipe, commonly used in primary cooling loops in light-water nuclear power plants. These pipes typically have a wall thickness of ~8 cm. Unfortunately, inspection using conventional ultrasonic techniques is not reliable as the microstructure strongly attenuates ultrasonic waves. Work is ongoing to simulate the behavior of acoustic waves in this microstructure and ultimately develop an acoustic inspection method for reactor inspections. In order to account for elastic anisotropy in the material, the texture in the steel was measured as a function of radial distance though the pipe wall. Experiments were conducted on two 10 × 12.7 × 80 mm radial sections of a cast pipe using neutron diffraction scans of 2 mm slices using the HIPPO time-of-flight neutron diffractometer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE, Los Alamos, NM, USA). Strong textures dominated by a small number of austenite grains with their (100) direction aligned in the radial direction of the pipe were observed. ODF analysis indicated that up to 70% of the probed volume was occupied by just three single-grain orientations, consistent with grain sizes of almost 1 cm. Texture and phase fraction of both ferrite and austenite phases were measured along the length of the samples. These results will inform the development of a more robust diagnostic tool for regular inspection of this material.

42 ENGINEERING↗

High-Power Piezoelectric Acoustic-Electric Power Feedthru for Metal Walls

Piezoelectric acoustic-electric power feed-through devices transfer electric power wirelessly through a solid wall by using acoustic waves. This approach allows for the removal of holes through structures. The technology is applicable to power supply for electric equipment inside sealed containers, vacuum or pressure vessels, etc where the holes on the wall are prohibitive or result in significant performance degrade or complex designs. In the author's previous work, 100-W electric power was transferred through a metal wall by a small, simple-structure piezoelectric device. To meet requirements of higher power applications, the feasibility to transfer kilowatts level power was investigated. Pre-stressed longitudinal piezoelectric feedthru devices were analyzed by finite element model. An equivalent circuit model was developed to predict the power transfer characteristics to different electric loads. Based on the analysis results, a prototype device was designed, fabricated and a demonstration of the transmission of electric power up to 1-kW was successfully conducted. The methods to minimize the plate wave excitation on the wall were also analyzed. Both model analysis and experimental results are presented in detail in this presentation.

acoustic wave↗

Monolithic AlScN/SiC phononic waveguides for scalable acoustoelectric and quantum devices

Unlike conventional surface acoustic wave devices, phononic waveguide systems enable higher circuit density and stronger strain and piezoelectric fields, making them promising for advanced acoustoelectric and quantum applications. One such material system for generating and guiding phonons at gigahertz frequencies is AlScN on SiC, which can be synthesized by sputter depositing AlScN directly onto SiC wafers. The AlScN on the SiC platform allows for tightly vertically-confined acoustic modes with high electromechanical coupling, high speed of sound, and simple fabrication of strip and rib waveguides. Until now, this system has only been studied as a slab waveguide platform, i.e., without any lateral waveguiding. Here, we demonstrate a two-dimensionally confined phononic architecture in AlScN on SiC that supports guided modes at 2.95 and 4.05 GHz. These modes exhibit strong electromechanical coupling coefficients (k 2 = 4.27%) and propagation losses on the order of 10 dB/mm. Furthermore, this architecture is well-suited for phononic routing and power-efficient active or nonlinear devices such as amplifiers, mixers, and oscillators, and is compatible with the integration of quantum systems, including vacancy centers, charge carriers, photons, and spins, either embedded in SiC or heterogeneously integrated on the surface.

Electrical components↗

Removal of Non-Specifically Bound Proteins Using Rayleigh Waves Generated on ST-Quartz Substrates

Label-free biosensors are plagued by the issue of non-specific protein binding which negatively affects sensing parameters such as sensitivity, selectivity, and limit-of-detection. In the current work, we explore the possibility of using the Rayleigh waves in ST-Quartz devices to efficiently remove non-specifically bound proteins via acoustic streaming. A coupled-field finite element (FE) fluid structure interaction (FSI) model of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device based on ST-Quartz substrate in contact with a liquid loading was first used to predict trends in forces related to SAW-induced acoustic streaming. Based on model predictions, it is found that the computed SAW body force is sufficient to overcome adhesive forces between particles and a surface while lift and drag forces prevent reattachment for a range of SAW frequencies. We further performed experiments to validate the model predictions and observe that the excitation of Rayleigh SAWs removed non-specifically bound (NSB) antigens and antibodies from sensing and non-sensing regions, while rinsing and blocking agents were ineffective. An amplified RF signal applied to the device input disrupted the specific interactions between antigens and their capture antibody as well. ST-quartz allows propagation of Rayleigh and leaky SH-SAW waves in orthogonal directions. Thus, the results reported here could allow integration of three important biosensor functions on a single chip, i.e., removal of non-specific binding, mixing, and sensing in the liquid phase.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Comparison of amplification via the acousto-electric effect of Rayleigh and Leaky-SAW modes in a monolithic surface InP:InGaAs/lithium niobate heterostructure

This work demonstrates a monolithic surface acoustic wave amplifier fabricated by state-of-the-art heterogenous integration of a III-V InGaAs-based epitaxial material stack and LiNbO 3 . We compare amplification of Raleigh-SAW and leaky-SAW modes on a on Y-cut, X-propagating delay line amplifier. Due to the superior properties of the materials employed, we observe a net terminal gain of 3dB for an LSAW overtone mode This platform enables further advances in active and non-reciprocal piezoelectric acoustic devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Instability seeding mechanisms due to internal defects in inertial confinement fusion targets

Performance degradation in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions is caused by several effects, one of which is Rayleigh–Taylor instability growth. Defects in ICF targets, such as internal voids and surface roughness, create instability seeds in the shell as shocks propagate through the target. A comprehensive understanding of seeding mechanisms is essential to characterize the impact of target defects on inflight shell integrity and mass injection into the central, lower-density vapor region. An analysis of early-time behavior of both single-mode shell mass modulations and isolated voids is performed by examining the evolution of the acoustic waves launched by these target imperfections. A systematic study of localized perturbation growth as a function of defect placement and size is presented. Furthermore, the use of low-density ablator materials (such as foams) is suggested as a potential mitigation strategy to improve target robustness against the impact of defect-initiated growth.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Tailoring the Angular Mismatch in MoS 2 Homobilayers through Deformation Fields

Ultrathin MoS 2 has shown remarkable characteristics at the atomic scale with an immutable disorder to weak external stimuli. Ion beam modification unlocks the potential to selectively tune the size, concentration, and morphology of defects produced at the site of impact in 2D materials. Combining experiments, first-principles calculations, atomistic simulations, and transfer learning, it is shown that irradiation-induced defects can induce a rotation-dependent moiré pattern in vertically stacked homobilayers of MoS 2 by deforming the atomically thin material and exciting surface acoustic waves (SAWs). Furthermore, the direct correlation between stress and lattice disorder by probing the intrinsic defects and atomic environments are demonstrated. The method introduced in this paper sheds light on how engineering defects in the lattice can be used to tailor the angular mismatch in van der Waals (vdW) solids.

2D materials↗

Dispersion and the speed-limited particle-in-cell algorithm

This paper discusses temporally continuous and discrete forms of the speed-limited particle-in-cell (SLPIC) method first treated by Werner et al. [Phys. Plasmas 25, 123512 (2018)]. The dispersion relation for a 1D1V electrostatic plasma whose fast particles are speed-limited is derived and analyzed. By examining the normal modes of this dispersion relation, we show that the imposed speed-limiting substantially reduces the frequency of fast electron plasma oscillations while preserving the correct physics of lower-frequency plasma dynamics (e.g. ion acoustic wave dispersion and damping). We then demonstrate how the timestep constraints of conventional electrostatic particle-in-cell methods are relaxed by the speed-limiting approach, thus enabling larger timesteps and faster simulations. Here, these results indicate that the SLPIC method is a fast, accurate, and powerful technique for modeling plasmas wherein electron kinetic behavior is nontrivial (such that a fluid/Boltzmann representation for electrons is inadequate) but evolution is on ion timescales.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A theoretical prediction of the acoustic pressure generated by turbulence-flame front interactions

The equations of momentum annd continuity are combined and linearized yielding the one dimensional nonhomogeneous acoustic wave equation. Three terms in the non-homogeneous equation act as acoustic sources and are taken to be forcing functions acting on the homogeneous wave equation. The three source terms are: fluctuating entropy, turbulence gradients, and turbulence-flame interactions. Each source term is discussed. The turbulence-flame interaction source is used as the basis for computing the source acoustic pressure from the Fourier transformed wave equation. Pressure fluctuations created in turbopump gas generators and turbines may act as a forcing function for turbine and propellant tube vibrations in Earth to orbit space propulsion systems and could reduce their life expectancy. A preliminary assessment of the acoustic pressure fluctuations in such systems is presented.

Huff, R. G.↗

A theoretical prediction of the acoustic pressure generated by turbulence-flame front interactions

The equations of momentum and continuity are combined and linearized yielding the one dimensional nonhomogeneous acoustic wave equation. Three terms in the non-homogeneous equation act as acoustic sources and are taken to be forcing functions acting on the homogeneous wave equation. The three source terms are: fluctuating entropy, turbulence gradients, and turbulence-flame interactions. Each source term is discussed. The turbulence-flame interaction source is used as the basis for computing the source acoustic pressure from the Fourier transformed wave equation. Pressure fluctuations created in turbopump gas generators and turbines may act as a forcing function for turbine and propellant tube vibrations in earth to orbit space propulsion systems and could reduce their life expectancy. A preliminary assessment of the acoustic pressure fluctuations in such systems is presented.

Huff, R. G.↗

Plasma-Assisted Epitaxy of Piezoelectric Sc x Al 1-x N Films on Sapphire for Use in Harsh-Environment Microwave Acoustic Sensors

The Sc x Al 1-x N wurtzite structure has been shown theoretically and experimentally to exhibit significantly higher piezoelectric coupling compared to pure AlN. In this work, a plasma-assisted epitaxial growth method has been used to synthesize epitaxial (0002) Sc x Al 1-x N films on c-sapphire substrates from x = 0.07 to 0.30 by co-evaporating high-purity Sc and Al sources in the presence of a nitrogen plasma generated by an RF plasma source. Epitaxial Sc x Al 1-x N films with highly oriented (0002) grains and in-plane registry were produced on c-sapphire substrates that were pre-exposed to the nitrogen plasma to form an oxynitride seed layer. Growth of Sc x Al 1-x N films was carried out at 930°C under both metal-rich and N-rich conditions using precisely controlled Sc, Al, and N-plasma fluxes. Metal-rich depositions yielded non-(0002)-oriented Sc x Al 1-x N grains and intermetallic ScAl grains. Nitrogen-rich growth with a Sc/Al flux ratio of 1/3 produced the best (0002) epitaxy as determined by x-ray diffraction analysis. Surface acoustic wave resonator (SAWR) devices were fabricated from 500-nm-thick Sc x Al 1-x N and AlN films to extract their electromechanical coupling coefficients, k 2 . As the Sc concentration in the films increases, the degree of (0002) epitaxy is reduced, yet the value of k 2 increases becasue there is more Sc in the wurzite lattice despite the decreased level of (0002) grain alignment. As a result, the use of a 10-nm-thick Si x N y capping layer on top of the Sc x Al 1-x N films aids in preventing etching during SAWR device photolithography and also helps hinder film oxidation up to 800°C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Studies of acoustic-electric feed-throughs for power transmission through structures

There are numerous engineering design problems where the use of wires to transfer power and communicate data thru the walls of a structure is prohibitive or significantly difficult that it may require a complex design. Using physical feedthroughs in such systems may make them susceptible to leakage of chemicals or gasses, loss of pressure or vacuum, as well as difficulties in providing adequate thermal or electrical insulation. Moreover, feeding wires thru a wall of a structure reduces the strength of the structure and makes the structure prone to cracking due to fatigue that can result from cyclic loading and stress concentrations. One area that has already been identified to require a wireless alternative to electrical feedthroughs is the container of the Mars Sample Return Mission, which will need wireless sensors to sense a pressure leak and to avoid potential contamination. The idea of using elastic or acoustic waves to transfer power was suggested recently by [Y. Hu, et al., July 2003]. This system allows for the avoidance of cabling or wiring. The technology is applicable to the transfer of power for actuation, sensing and other tasks inside any sealed container or vacuum/pressure vessel. An alternative approach to the modeling presented previously [Sherrit et a., 2005] used network analysis to solve the same problem in a clear and expandable manner. Experimental tests on three different designs of these devices were performed. The three designs used different methods of coupling the piezoelectric element to the wall. In the first test the piezoelectric material was bolted using a backing structure. In the second test the piezoelectric was clamped after the application of grease and finally the piezoelectric element was attached using a conductive epoxy. The mechanical clamp with grease produced the highest measured efficiency of 53% however this design was the least practical from a fabrication viewpoint. The power transfer efficiency of conductive epoxy joint was 40% and the stress bolts (12%).

ultrasonics↗

Impact of Thermal Stress on Attachment and Stability of High Temperature Strain Sensors

Static and dynamic strain sensing is required in high-temperature (HT), harsh-environments (HE) for industrial, aerospace, and energy sector applications to ensure equipment and process safety, reduce the cost of operation and maintenance, and increase process efficiency. Challenges that arise in HT HE sensing applications include device mounting, packaging, integrity, and stability to HT HE conditions. In previously reported work, static and dynamic strain surface acoustic wave resonator (SAWR) sensors were fabricated on langasite (LGS) and mounted on Inconel 625 strain beams for wireless testing up to 400°C. In this work, it has been identified that after subjecting the mounted SAWR strain sensor to thermal cycling between 100°C and 425°C, the measured sensitivity to dynamic strain decreased by 73% due to cracking at the adhesive/LGS interface, further deteriorating after additional thermal cycles. Strain modeling of the mounted LGS sensor chip up to 400°C revealed the existence of concentrated strain at the borders of the LGS chip. Microcracks caused by dicing make the chip boarders the most susceptible location for cracks to initiate when the sensor is subjected to thermal stress. In an attempt to mitigate the high strain at the LGS chip borders due to heating, adhesive shaping is proposed in this work. Simulations indicate a strain reduction of 50% at the border is achieved using both circular and triangular adhesive shapes, while also reducing the maximum strain over the entire adhesive/LGS interface by around 30%. Furthermore, the technique is thus promising for improving the integrity, reliability, and stability of static and dynamic strain sensors, particularly while operating under HT HE with several hundreddegree Celsius temperature excursions.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗