Piezoelectric Sensors

Yongrae Roh
Kyungpook National University
Daegu, Korea

Contents
I. Piezoelectricity
II. Electromechanical Equivalent Circuit
III. Sensing Principles of Piezoelectric Sensors
1.
2.
3.

Charge detection sensor

Resonant sensor
Ultrasonic wave sensor

IV. Design Methods

V. Application of Piezoelectric Sensors
1.
2.
3.
4.

Impedance measurement
Sensor system for SHM
Bulk wave measurement
Other examples

VI. Future trend of piezoelectric sensors

I. Piezoelectricity
Linear conversion of electro-mechanical energy: reversible
Electrical Energy Mechanical Energy

k eff 2 =

mechanical (electric) energy converted to electric (mechanical) energy

input mechanical (electric) energy

(1) direct effect: mechanical energy electrical energy

- sensor, microphone, generator
(2) converse effect: electrical energy mechanical energy
- actuator , speaker, motor

electrostriction, piezomagneticity, magnetostriction

Piezoelectric constitutive equations

D = E + d

=dE+s

D = electric displacement field,

E = electric field,
= stress,
= strain

= permittivity

d = piezoelectric constant
sE = elastic compliance

Variations
D = e + E

= s D + gD

= C D hD

= C E e E

E = g + T D

E = h + D

Anisotropy for piezoelectricity

Elastic stiffness
c12
c13
c11

c22
c23

c33
[c ] =

symmetric

c14

c15

c24
c34

c25
c35

c44

c45
c55

Permittivity
11 12 13

[ ] =
22 23
sym.
33

Piezoelectric constants
e11 e12

[e] = e21 e22

e
31 e32

V. M. Ristic, John Wiley & Sons, 1983

e13 e14

e15

e23 e24
e33 e34

e25
e35

e16

e26
e36

c16

c26
c36

c46
c56
c66

Symmetric groups in crystals

z
c

b
y

Cubic ; a = b = c, = = = 90o
Tetragonal ; a = b c, = = = 90o
Orthorhombic ; a b c, = = = 90o
Monoclinic ; a b c, = = 90o
Triclinic ; a b c, 90o
Hexagonal ; a = b c, = = 90o , = 120o

Bravais lattice structures

Rhombohedral (trigonal);
a = b c, = = 90 o , = 60 o

Crystal symmetric groups

Material constants of PZT

Elastic stiffness
c11

[c ] =

c12
c11

Hexagonal 6mm Symmetry

c13
c13

0
0

0
0

c33

c44

symmetric

c44

0
0
,
0

0
c66

c c
c66 = 11 12
2

Permittivity

Piezoelectric constants

0
0
11

[ ] =
11 0
sym.
33

0
0

[e] = 0
0
e
31 e32

Equivalent isotropic properties:

E = c11

2
2c12

0 0
0 e24
e33 0

c11 + c12

e15
0
0

0
0

c12
c11 + c12

Vibration modes

Thermodynamic energy conversion

Heckman Diagram

Corresponding
material constants

Pyroelectricity - thermal effects

p=

3836

P ( polarizati on)
T (temperature)

3834

Frequency [kHz]

3832
3830
3828

FET
3826

D
S

Wi

3824
3822

RG

3820
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

T im e [1 0 s e c ]

Oscillation frequency vs. time

Pyroelectric
element

FET bias resistor

CA

RA

Meas. or
display
system

Nonlinearity

Curie-Weiss Law for ferroelectrics

crystal
oscilloscope

' =

A
T Tc

A = Curie constant
Hysteresis Loop (Sawer-Tower circuit)

Tc = Curie-Weiss temperature

Piezoelectric materials

Single crystals
(SiO2, LiNbO3, LiTaO3)

Polymer: PVDF, Co-Polymer

Polycrystalline ceramics
(PZT, PbTiO3, BaTiO3)

Thin films

Fabrication of piezoceramics
Raw Materials and Weighing
Mixing & Milling
Calcination

Crushing
roller

Hammer
mill

Ball mill

Remixing & Remilling

Shaping
Sintering
Post Processing
Characterization

Fabrication process

* two sphere sintering mode

* densification by sintering

Single crystal growth

Crystal growth
-Growth by a change of state from liquid or gas to solid, or from liquid solution to solid around nucleus
-Nucleus : a small single crystal (seed)
-Growth should be a slow process with a precise control over temperature, composition, time and so on.
-Otherwise, there may be random orientation, coring, and trapping of disordered regions.

Czochralski method
Keeping a melt of a powder in a chamber, just above its melting point
Insertion of a seed crystal fixed to a rotating tube into the chamber.
Placing the seed at the surface of the melt; inoculent
Slow withdrawing of the tube with rotation; cooling
Continuous crystallization of the melt,
while serving as a subsequent nucleus

Piezoelectric single crystals

Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3

Comparison of properties
PZT-5A PZT-5H PMN-PT

3
2

Density
(Kg/m3)

7,750

7500

7,840

33T at 1KHz
(after poling)

2,000

3,400

4,990

k33

0.705

0.75

0.922

kt

0.49

0.505

0.621

d33(pC/N)

374

593

1,560

4,350

4,560

3,600

34

34

28.2

Sound
velocity
Acoustic Z
(Mrayl)

Piezocomposite materials

0-0

1-0

2-0

3-0

1-1

2-1

3-1

2-2

:polymer
:piezoceramic
3-2

3-2

3-3

3-3

Tailoring material properties to achieve desired performance

Macro Fiber Composite

*Smart Materials Inc., USA

*NASA, Langley

II. Electromechanical Equivalent Circuit

Electromechanical Analogue
f

u
m

+
R

Rm

du
+ k u dt + Rm u
dt
= ma + kx + Rm u

f =m

Impedance analogue:

V =L

u
m
Rm
1/k = Cm

dI 1
+ I dt + RI
dt C

I
L
R
C,

Cm : mechanical compliance

Equivalent circuit of a piezoceramic plate

Thickness mode
Za

Za

Zb

PZT

-C0
C0

Z a = iZ 0 tan

kt
2

Z0
sin kt
Z 0 = ctD lW
Z b = i

1:

Mason

KLM (Krimholtz, Leedom and Matthei)

= C 0 h33

Redwood

Simplified circuit around a resonance

Valid only around a resonance

PZT

1:

Rm

R0

Cm

Mm

C0

ZL

_-

Load

Rm / 2

+
V

R0

Mm / 2

R0 = electrical resistance

Cm 2

iM

C0

ZL / 2

C0 = electrical capacitance
Rm = motional resistance
Cm = motional capacitance
Mm = motional inductance

Input admittance
Y IN = Y E + YM =

= turning ratio
1
+ i C 0 +
R0

ZL = load impedance = RL + iXL

R m + R L + i (M m

+ XL)
C m

V = driving electrical voltage

u = im = motional flux (velocity)

Impedance & Admittance analysis

Impedance curve (magnitude & phase)

Admittance curve (conductance & susceptance)

Resonance: .electromechanical impedance becomes minimum

.electromechanical admittance becomes maximum
Anti-resonance: .electromechanical impedance becomes maximum
.electromechanical admittance becomes minimum
functions of load impedance ZL = RL + iXL

Impedance & Admittance analysis

fm = frequency of maximum admittance

& minimum impedance
fn = frequency of minimum admittance
& maximum impedance
fs = series (motional) resonance
fp = parallel resonance frequency
fr = electrical resonance frequency
fa = electrical anti-resonance frequency

k eff

f p2 fs2
fa 2 fr 2
fn2 fm 2
C1
=
=

2
2
C 0 + C1
fp
fa
fn2

III. Sensing Principles

1. Charge detection sensor
- accumulation of electric charges
- D = E + e
2. Resonant sensor
- change in dynamic properties of the sensor
- resonant frequency, Q-factor (f0/f)
3. Ultrasonic wave sensor
- propagation of ultrasonic waves
- flight time, phase shift, amplitude attenuation

1. Charge Detection Sensor

Accumulation of electric charges

D = E + e
D = electric displacement,
= stress,
, = permittivity

or

D = E + d
E = electric field,
= strain
e, d = piezoelectric constant

Mechanical stress or strain electrical charge

Piezoelectric accelerometer

Mass, m
PZT
Vibrating structure
F
F = ma with a known m
Measured F is proportional to a

E = g

V = E t
= g t
= gt F / A
= g t m a / A

Piezoelectric force & pressure sensor

Force sensor

Pressure sensor

Impact hammer

On-road pressure sensor

Piezoelectric gyroscope
Coriolis Force:

vv

F=2mv

m : mass of the gyroscope

Wxx

Fy

Wxx

: angular velocity

Y
X

v : linear velocity
3

PZT

2.5

Output Voltage (arb.unit)

dVab

1.5

dVcd

0.5

Angular Velocity (Hz)

Angular velocity vs. voltage

2. Resonant Sensor
Change in dynamic properties of a sensor
Attachment of a piezoelectric resonator to a structure
Change of structural property
Change of sensor property
.resonant frequency
.Q-factor (f0 /f)
change in impedance spectra

Electromechanical Impedance Sensor

Impedance analysis method
Impedance analyzer

PC

Impedance [Ohm]

Output display

Non
N=1
N=3
N=5
N=7
N=9

3200

3300

3400

Frequency [kHz]

3500

3600

FEM simulation
*N = number of cracks on the aluminum plate

d=1cm, Crack N=1

d=1cm, Crack N=5

d=1cm, Crack N=3

d=1cm, Crack N=7

Impedance [Ohm]

100

10

N=1
N=2
N=3
N=4
N=5
N=6
N=7
N=8
N=9
N=10
N=11

3M

4M

1
2M

5M

Frequency [Hz]

Impedance spectrum vs. N

d=1cm, Crack N=9

d=1cm, Crack N=11

6M

Piezoceramic Oscillator Sensor

Piezoelectric oscillator sensor
- piezoelectric vibrator + oscillator circuit
electrode

simple, accurate, reliable

Oscillator
circuit

high sensitivity
limited detection area

Variable
Gain
Amp.

Piezoceramic
vibrator

AGC(Automatic Gain
Control) Amplifier
Maintain amplitude ~ 1Vpp

Variable
Phase Shifter
Piezo-vibrator

Resonant frequency vs. Cracks

+
Piezoceramic patch

Oscillator circuit

Change in resonant frequency [Hz]

Change in resonant frequency [Hz]

PZT-Oscillator sensor
25500

25600

25700

25800

25900

26000
N=1

N=3

N=5

N=7

N=9

13000
12000
11000
10000
9000
8000
7000

N=11
d=1

Number of cracks

d=2

d=3

d=4

d=5

Crack length

d=6

d=7

3. Ultrasonic Wave Sensor

Active method
- transmit waves of known properties
- receive the wave after through-transmission or reflection
- compare transmitted and received wave properties

- Through-transmission or Pulse-echo method

Passive method
- detect waves transmitted by external sources
- waves of unknown properties
- event count, ringdown count, energy distribution analysis, etc.

- Acoustic emission method

Type of acoustic waves

Bulk longitudinal (P) wave

Bulk transverse (S) wave

Surface (Rayleigh) wave

Plate mode (Lamb) wave

Properties of acoustic waves

Elastic wave velocity
. P wave:

VP = [

Eg (1 )
]1/ 2
(1 + )(1 2 )

. S wave:

VS = [

E
]1/ 2
2 (1 + )

Transmission and Reflection

. Transmission coeff.: T =

2 Z1
Z1 + Z 0

R=

Z1 Z 0
Z1 + Z 0

. Reflection coeff.:

E = Youngs modulus
= density
= Poissons ratio

Ultrasonic transducers
connector
backing
material

matching
circuit
backing
layer

piezoelectric
element

matching
layer
wear plate

Applications:
1. Medical Diagnosis
2. Nondestructive Evaluation Test
3. Imaging, Holography Sensor
4. Distance, Level Sensor
5. Thickness Sensor
6. Flow Sensor
7. Structural Health Monitoring

Characteristics of ultrasonic transducers

1. center frequency (f0)
2. sensitivity (Vp-p)
3. S/N ratio
4. ringdown time (t-20dB)
5. bandwidth (f)
6. impedance
7. directivity (beam pattern)
8. distance area characteristics (focus)

Ultrasonic test equipment

Through-Transmission Test

Pulse-Echo Test

Active ultrasonic wave method

Pulse-Echo Test
A0,t0

transducer

A1 ,t1
A2,t2

Sound velocity = 2d /(t2 - t1)

Attenuation = 20log | A2 /A1 |

A1 A2
d
structure

defects

Active ultrasonic wave method

Through-Transmission Test
d
Sound velocity = d /(t1 - t0)
Attenuation = 20log |A1 /A0|

A0,t0
Trx

Trx

structure

A1,t1

Image scanning method

Trx

Trx

y
x

A scan - line depth scan

B scan - vertical plane scan

C scan - horizontal plane scan

|impedance|

Types of bulk wave transducers

1
.1
.01

.0-1
0
0
0

S
P
1.0

2.0

3.0

frequency (MHz)

thickness mode
piezoelectric
element

P wave transducer

Impedance spectrum
thickness shear mode
piezoelectric
element

S wave transducer

P-S wave transducer

Single element transducer

Flat transducer

Side scan transducer

*Panametrics (Olympus)

Point focus transducer

Line focus tranducer

Dual element transducer

Internal structure

Sensor operation

Line array transducer

Array of multiple piezoelectric elements

Linear array

Convex array

Linear phased array transducer

Adjustment of the time delay of each element

-initial phasing to control beam pattern (beam steering) and
focusing (dynamic focusing)

High inspection speed

Flexible data processing capability

High resolution

The capability of scanning without mechanical movement

Phase shift
Time delay

Beam steering

Dynamic focusing

Lamb wave transducer

Snells law
critical angle for total reflection

Excitation by bulk wave transducers

piezoelectric substrate

input
IDT
Excitation by a piezoceramic patch

output
IDT

Excitation by inter-digital transducers

40 cm

Waveform(thickness of a plate : 1 mm
S0 mode
A0 mode

0.4
0.3

30 cm

0.2

25 cm
20 cm
15 cm

Voltage(V)

35 cm

Voltage(v)

Crack Length = 0 m
Crack Length = 0.02 m
Crack Length = 0.04 m
Crack Length = 0.06 m
Crack Length = 0.08 m

B->C, X= 0.05 m
Number of cracks = 1

0.1
0.0
-0.1

10 cm
-0.2

5 cm

Origin

-0.3

Time(ms)

0.064

S0

0.068

0.072

Time(ms)
S0
A0

6000

5000

Group velocity(m/s)

Position of transducer from the PZT sensor

Lamb wave propagation

4000

3000

A0

2000

1000

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Frequency(MHz)

1.2

1.4

1.6

Plate mode (Lamb) wave

Passive ultrasonic wave method

Acoustic emission test
Objective
.to monitor structural integrity
.to detect and locate incipient discontinuities
.to monitor the presence and severity of growing cracks,
plastic deformation or delaminations

Causes of acoustic emission

- metallurgical transformation
- dislocation movements
- plastic yielding
- micro-cracking
- etc.

Acoustic emission sensor

Passive sensor to detect AE activity
.good sensitivity
.wide bandwidth: audible several MHz
.low directivity

Applications
Pressure vessels, storage tanks,
heat exchangers, piping,
reactors, aerial lift devices,
nuclear power plants
etc.

IV. Design Methods

1. Analytic analysis
2. Equivalent circuit analysis
3. Finite element analysis

1. Analytic Analysis - single piston source

x
P

Rigid
baffle

r
r

S = 2a 2

p = i 0 cku0 r r
= 2i 0 cu0
P

+a2

At a far field

e ik d

k
i ( r 2 + a 2 r )
e 2

k
sin[ ( r 2 + a 2 r )]
2

0c

ka 2 i (t kr ) 2 J1 (ka sin )
Au0
e
P =i
2
r
ka sin
P = Pax H s ( ) ,

near
field

where J 1 = first order Bessel Function.

far
field

A = piston radius
Pax = on-axis pressure
Hs() = directional factor

1. Analytic analysis - linear array

Linear array of simple sources
N

d
N
kd sin )
NA
2
P(r , , t ) =

ei ( t kr )
r N sin( 1 kd sin )
2
sin(

P ( r , ) = Pax ( r ) H e ( )

, where Pax ( r ) =

NA
= on - axis pressure
r

N
sin( kd sin )
2
= directional factor
H e ( ) =
1
N sin( kd sin )
2

Radiation pattern
Accurate, complicated
Limited applicability

2. Equivalent Circuit piezoelectric patch

Rigid
baffle

REM / 2

R0

CEM

M EM

iM

C0

S = 2a 2

EA =

Acoustic power Radiated

total elec. input power

EM

Power dissipated in motional branch

=
Total elec. input power

MA

Power dissipated in R mR / 2
=
Power dissipated in motional branch

EM

R
1
R
| iM |2 ( EM
)
+ mR
2
2

2
=
RmR
1
R
e2
| iM |2 ( EM
)
+
+
2
2 R0
2
2

QM =

2 ( peak energy stored in M M at resonance

power dissipated in ( RMR + RM ) per cycle

R (R + R ) / 2
EM

QE = w0C0 0 mR
R
+
R + mR REM

0
2

M EM

CM

M
1 lt
=
2
4 N
4N 2
4N 2

E
2 ( t / ls11
)

= N2

Cm

RmR / 2

2. Equivalent circuit ultrasonic transducer

connector
backing
material

matching
circuit
backing
layer

piezoelectric
ceramics

matching
layer

Z04

Z02

backing
load

time domain
Z03

frequency domain

Z05

ZMR

V0

piezoceramic matching matching acoustic acoustic

layer 1
layer 2
lens
load

Impedance analysis

3. Finite Element Analysis

K uu
0
M

2

+

Ku
0 0

K u

u
= F

Q

M = mechanical mass matrix,

Kuu = mechanical stiffness, K = electrical stiffness
Ku, Ku = electromechanical stiffness
= electrical potential
u = displacement,
F = force,
Q = electric charge
Commercial FEA software packages
ANSYS, PZFlex, ATILA, CAPA,

Accurate, multi-dimensional, various analyses

expensive, time consuming

3. Finite element analysis

at 1mm

( mesh size lamda/8 )

at 2 mm
5.0E+04

at 3 mm

(dyne/cm2)

3.0E+04

1.0E+04

-1.0E+04

-3.0E+04

-5.0E+04
1.00E-05

1.18E-05

1.33E-05

1.48E-05

1.63E-05

1.78E-05

1.93E-05

time domain

2500

2000

at 1 mm
2.473 MHz

1800

at 2 mm

2000

1(upper PZT)
28 kHz, 308

1600

at 3 mm

2(lower PZT)

1400

28 kHz, 213

Impedance(|Z|)

Magnitude

1500

1000

500

1200
1000
800
600
400

19.9 kHz

200
0
0

1x10

2x10

3x10

4x10

5x10

frequency

spatial domain

frequency domain

6x10

0
15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

frequency

impedance analysis

V. Application of Piezoelectric Sensors

1. Impedance measurement
2. Piezoelectric Sensor System for plates
Oscillator sensor: Local measurement
Lamb wave sensor: Global measurement

3. Bulk wave measurement

4. Other examples

1. Impedance Measurement
Thickness Mode Resonator
PZT

Rm / 2

+
V

R0

Lm / 2

Cm 2

iM

C0

ZL / 2

Mechanical load
- function of structural
conditions

Input Admittance

Y IN = Y E + YM

1
=
+ i C 0 +
R0

2
R m + R L + i (M m

ZL= mechanical impedance of the plate = RL + i XL

V = input voltage,
im = mechanical flux
C0 = electrostatic capacitance
R0 = internal electrical resistance
Cm = mechanical capacitance
Rm = mechanical resistance
Lm = mechanical mass
= frequency

1
+ XL)
C m

fs = unloaded series resonance

1
2 Lm C m
fp = unloaded parallel resonance
1
2

1 C0 + Cm
Lm C 0 C m

1. Impedance measurement
2 Z

0
A L0 CL0

0 = Initial resonant frequency

= Frequency Shift in response to Z

Impedance (Ohm)

z Frequency Shift:

Frequency (Hz)

Monitoring the 0 of the PZT bonded on the Structure

in relation to Structural Damages
9 Does not require Modal Parameters / Failure Modes
9 Monitor Local Modes at High Frequencies(>100 kHz)
: It Can Detect Incipient-type Damages

1. Impedance measurement
Experimental setup and Procedure

Measured data (S. H. Park)

No damage
Damage Case I-1
Damage Case I-2

0.8

10

Damage Case I-1

Damage Case I-2

Im p ed an ce

0.7

Crack near PZT 3

10

0.6

10

0.5

10

2 cracks near PZTs 2 & 3

0.4

10

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

Frequency (MHz)

2.9
6

x 10

PZT 1
10000

0.7

10

No damage
Damage Case I-1
Damage Case I-2

0.8

10

-10000

Damage I-2

-20000

PZT 1
PZT2
PZT3

Im p ed an ce

0.7

No damage

Im pedance

F re q u e n c y S h ift ( H z )

No damage
Damage Case I-1
Damage Case I-2

0.8

10

0.6

10

0.5

10

0.4

10

-30000

Damage I-1

10

0.6

10

0.5

10

0.4

10

0.3

10

-40000

0.3

Damage Case

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

Frequency (MHz)

PZT 2

2.8

2.9
6

x 10

10

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

Frequency (MHz)

PZT 3

2.8

2.9
6

x 10

Impedance vs. Crack configuration

No crack

N=1
N=2
N=3
N=4
N=5
N=6
N=7
N=8
N=9
N=10
N=11

10

32.79
32.78
Impedance [Ohm]

Impedance [Ohm]

100

d=3cm, N=1
d=4cm, N=1
d=5cm, N=1
d=7cm, N=1

32.77
32.76
32.75
32.74
32.73
32.72

1
2M

3M

4M

5M

6M

Frequency [Hz]

Impedance spectrum vs. N

*N = number of cracks on the aluminum plate

856

858

860

862

864

866

868

Frequency [kHz]

Impedance spectrum vs. Crack length

2. Piezoelectric Sensor System for plates

PZT oscillator sensor: Local measurement
Ultrasonic sensor: Global measurement
Ultrasonic
transducer

PZT oscillator

Oscillator circuit

local major cracks

at a weak region

global minor cracks

distributed over
arbitrary places

Portable ultrasonic
measurement system

Local Detection: PZT Oscillator Sensor

Piezoelectric oscillator sensor
- piezoelectric vibrator + oscillator circuit

electrode

diagnosis of the number of cracks

diagnosis of the length of cracks

Oscillator
circuit
Piezoceramic vibrator
100

40

Impedance [Ohm]

10000

0
-20

4.55 MHz

1000

-40

100

-60
-80

10

lateral mode

80
60
40

10000
20

125 kHz

1000

-20
-40
-60

100

-100

-80

-120

-100
10

1000

2000

3000

4000

Frequency [kHz]

5000

6000

100

200

300

Frequency [kHz]

400

500

Magnitude [degree]

20

Magnitude [degree]

thickness mode

Im pedacne
Phase

Impedance [Ohm]

100000

Im pedacne
Phase

100000

Compensation of environmental effects

GPIB

GPIB
Output display
Frequency counter
Oscillator

Frequency counter
50 cm

Oscillator
10 cm

PZT
Experimental plate specimen
f1 effects of cracks
+ effects of environment

Experimental plate with damages

Reference plate specimen

f2 effects of environment

PZT-Oscillator Reference sensor

Lateral mode analysis & measurement

Number of cracks vs. frequency shift: crack length = 3 cm
125600
125500

FEM analysis

125200
125000
124800
124600
124400

frequency [Hz]

Frequency [Hz]

125400

124200

Measurement

125400

125300

125200

125100

124000
125000
N=1

N=3

N=5

N=7

N=9

N=11

N=1

N=3

Number of cracks

N=5

N=7

N=9

N=11

Number of cracks

Crack length vs. frequency shift

126000
73800

125000

Frequency [Hz]

73400

FEM analysis

73200
73000
72800
72600
72400

Delta Frequency [Hz]

73600

124000

Measurement

123000

122000

121000

120000

72200

119000
d=1

d=2

d=3

Length of crack

d=4

d=5

d=1

d=2

d=3

d=4

d=5

Length of cracks

d=6

d=7

Thickness mode vs. Lateral mode: FEA

Number of cracks vs. frequency shift: crack length = 3 cm
124150

1.0005

124100

thickness

lateral

124050

Frequency [Hz]

Normalized frequency

1.0000

0.9995

0.9990

0.9985

124000

123950

123900

123850

0.9980

None N=1

123800

N=1

Num. of crack

N=3

N=5

N=7

N=9

N=11

Num. of Crack

Crack length vs. frequency shift

B
125600

1.000

125400

Impedance [Ohm]

0.999

Y Axis Title

0.998

0.997

thickness
0.996

0.995

lateral

125200
125000
124800
124600
124400
124200
124000

0.994
0

X Axis Title

10

d=1cm

Frequency [Hz]

11

Global Detection: Ultrasonic Transducer

Ultrasonic Transducer:
(1) Bulk transducer

(2) Piezeceramic patch

Crack configuration to be measured

(1) Crack position

Bulk
transducer

Piezo
-patch

(2) Crack length

(3) Crack number

PZT sensor

Oscilloscope

Damage detection scheme

0.15 m

0.05 m

0.05 m

0.05 m

Specimen

0.1 m

PZT

Transducer & wedge

0.05 m

crack

The crack position was changed in the range 5<=X<=15.

The position of wedge and transducer is fixed at node B.

0.01 m

: distance between crack and wedge.

Damage scenario
Transducer ->sensor
(Through transmission)
B->C
D->C

Position
of cracks
E
F
E
F

Number
of cracks

Range
of crack length

from 1 to 3

form 0 to 0.09 m

0.05 m

Ultrasonic beam width

Good agreement !
Theoretical Beam Width
frequency
P/Pax

0.5 MHz

-3 dB

12.7871

-6 dB

17.6608

o
o

1 MHz
12.7157
17.5607

o
o

Beam Width Measurement

0.5 MHz

1 MHz

frequency
Voltage(v)

Voltage(v)

P/Pax

0.5 MHz

-3 dB

10.314

-6 dB

17.734

o
o

1 MHz
15.589
19.934

o
o

Reconstruction of Original Signals

fa ()*fp() = fd ()
fa () = fd()/fp()
= fd()*(1/fp=impedance spectrum(Zp))
fd() signal of wavelet transformed domain

fp : frequency spectrum of PZT- Sensor (known)

fa : frequency spectrum of original signal (unknown)
fd : frequency spectrum of distorted signal (known)

(1) Crack Position TOF in a P/E response

To get the position of a crack (unknown)

Flying distance = velocity*TOF + constant

0.2 m

0.05 m

Transducer & wedge

0.1 m

C
0.05 m

PZT

The crack position was changed in the range 5<=X<=15.

The position of wedge and transducer is fixed at node B.

0.05 m

crack

: distance between crack and the front edge of the wedge.

Time response of Pulse-echoed signals

: 0.2 m

: 0.1 m

a
a
a
a

: 0.15 m

0 .1 0

= 0 .0 1 0
= 0 .0 1 5
= 0 .0 2 0
= 0 .0 2 5

m
m
m
m

: 0.25 m
Voltage(V)

0 .0 5

0 .0 0

-0 .0 5

-0 .1 0
0 .0 9

0 .1 0

0 .1 1

0 .1 2

T im e (m s )

0 .1 3

0 .1 4

The position of the front edge of wedge : X= 0.20 m

frequency
0.5 MHz
Exact
0.10 m 0.15 m 0.20 m 0.25 m
TOF (ms)
0.0898 0.1079 0.1261 0.1445
flying distance (m)

0.1995

0.3002

0.3999

0.5

estimated (m)

0.0998

0.1501

0.1999

0.25

(2) Crack Length Amplitude of a T/T response

Normalized amplitude of the first peak of measured signals (driving frequency=0.5 MHz)

B->C

1.4

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0

D->C

1.4
1.2

Normalized magnitude

Normalized magnitude

1.2

Crack 1, X=0.05 m
Crack 2, X=0.05 m
Crack 3, X=0.05 m
Crack 1, X=0.1 m
Crack 2, X=0.1 m
Crack 3, X=0.1 cm

1.0

Crack 1, X=0.05 m
Crack 2, X=0.05 m
Crack 3, X=0.05 m
Crack 1, X=0.1 m
Crack 2, X=0.1 m
Crack 3, X=0.1 cm

0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.00

0.02

Crack length(m)

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

Crack length(m)

Normalized amplitude of the first peak of original signals (driving frequency=0.5 MHz)

B->C

1.4

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4

1.2
1.0

0.6
0.4
0.2

0.0

0.0
0.02

0.04

0.06

Crack length(m)

0.08

0.10

Crack 1, X=0.05 m
Crack 2, X=0.05 m
Crack 3, X=0.05 m
Crack 1, X=0.1 m
Crack 2, X=0.1 m
Crack 3, X=0.1 m

0.8

0.2

0.00

D->C

1.4

Normalized magnitude

Normalized magnitude

1.2

Crack 1, X=0.05 m
Crack 2, X=0.05 m
Crack 3, X=0.05 m
Crack 1, X=0.1 m
Crack 2, X=0.1 m
Crack 3, X=0.1 m

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

Crack length(m)

The amplitudes are continuously decreasing as the crack lengths are increased
to enter the ultrasonic beam.

(3) Crack Number TOF in a T/T response

Relationship between in TOF and Flying Distance to determine the number of cracks
Crack number =1

Crack number =2

Crack number =3

B->C, X= 0.05
X=0.05 m, B->C

0.048

Number of Cracks = 1 EA
Number of Cracks = 2 EA
Number of Cracks = 3 EA

0.047

TOF(ms)

X
F

crack

0.046

0.045

0.044

0.06

0.07
Length of Cracks(m)

0.08

TOF is increasing in proportion

to the number of cracks.

3. Bulk Wave Measurement

Nondestructive Testing Handbook, ASNT, 1991

4. Other Example

V. Giurgiutiu et al, Aerospace America, May 2003

4. Other Example

Monitoring the health of aeronautical structures,

Igor Bovio, SPIE, 2006

structural neural system, G. R. Kirikera et al,

Structural Health Monitoring, 2008

VI. Future Trend of Piezoelectric Sensors

1. New materials: PZN-PT, PMN-PT, Li2B4O7, thin films
2. New structures: .multi-functional, micro-sensors
.resistant to harsh environment
3. Smart sensors: .system integration
.coupled with actuators to process self-treatment
4. Sensor network: multi-dimensional, wireless

Sensor network application framework, E. Sazonov, et al, 2004