Ifsttar PhD subject

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Title : Micro-crack imaging by nonlinear coda wave interferometry

Main host Laboratory - Referent Advisor   -

Director of the main host Laboratory   -

PhD Speciality Acoustique

Axis of the performance contract 2 - COP2017 - More efficient and resilient infrastructure

Main location Nantes

Doctoral affiliation ECOLE CENTRALE NANTES

PhD school Sciences de l'Ingénierie et des Systèmes (SIS)

Planned PhD supervisor ABRAHAM Odile  -  Université Gustave Eiffel  -  GERS - GeoEND

Planned PhD co-supervisor TOURNAT Vincent  -  CNRS  -  LAUM

Planned financing Contrat doctoral  - Ifsttar

Abstract

Background
***********
The development of structures with high added value exposed to severe environmental conditions requires the development and monitoring of innovative cement materials that are adapted to each situation. This is particularly the case for applications such as floating wind turbines, certain solar parks, new generation nuclear power stations or for the extension of the life of existing plants.

As a result, the subject of non-destructive testing of ultra-high performance concretes has been gaining interest for the past ten years. The acoustic emission technique has, for example, been successfully applied to ultra high performance concrete matrices in order to monitor their cracking and healing (Granger et al., 2007) and has been studied for formulations including fibers in the context of the location of cracks (Wang and Guo, 2018) with the limitations of the method such as carrying out tests during mechanical loading. Linear ultrasonic methods, such as ultrasonic wave velocity measurement, have proved their value and have allowed the measurement of elastic properties as can be done conventionally for ordinary non-fiber concrete (Hassan and Jones, 2012). It is also interesting to note that the combination of several non-destructive methods is an interesting way to characterize these cementitious materials (Tsioulou et al., 2017). Nevertheless, the fine characterization of the cracking of these materials and their process of appearance remain little studied with regard to the rapid development of their use for the realization of sensitive works.

At the same time, the non-linear acoustic methods developed over the last few years on ordinary cementitious materials make it possible to access additional information, sometimes more precise than linear methods, and this earlier. They made it possible to monitor the damage (Antonaci et al., 2010), the microcracking and its healing (Hilloulin et al., 2016, 2014, Zhang et al., 2012) and the withdrawal (Kim et al. al., 2017).

Thus the location of imaging cracking and especially its regular and non-intrusive characterization throughout the lifetime of these critical ultra-high performance concrete structures offers many research perspectives.

Objectives
**********
Nonlinear CODA wave interferometry (NCWI) tracks in laboratory (Hilloulin et al, 2016, 2014. Zhang et al, 2012.) and in situ (Legland et al, 2017) early damage of very heterogeneous materials like concrete. Very recent work links the new NCWI observables, initially obtained only experimentally, to intrinsic properties of the cracked zones via numerical modeling with the spectral element method (Chen et al., 2017). Laws connecting dimensions of the cracked area, its actual viscoelastic properties, the sizes of cracks to NCWI observables were obtained numerically and experimentally and validated in the laboratory on model materials with controlled cracks.

In continuation of this work, the aim of the thesis is to develop and validate an imaging method that, with nonlinear NCWI observables, will locate and characterize in heterogeneous environments cracks or microcraked areas inaccessible to linear ultrasonic imaging methods. It will be a question of locating, dimensioning and quantifying the level of damage of cracked zones with a non-linear pump probe acoustic method which combines a low frequency wave which modifies the contacts at the level of crack lips with a high frequency wave, the coda, which has the sensitivity needed to detect these changes.

The development of the inverse problem will initially rely on highly heterogeneous media with well-known localized nonlinearities. Numerical (spectral elements) and experimental work on controlled media (such as a perforated steel plate with acoustic contact non-linearities simulated by screws), will test the relevance and robustness of the chosen inverse problem.

It will then be necessary to develop tools for the design of an optimal and operational experimental protocol in relation to the real environment chosen: ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

Required profile
**************
Wave propagation (acoustic, seismic, ultrasound)
Inverse problem
Signal and data processing, instrumentation
Python, Matlab or Scilab - or other tools for scientific computing
Finite differences / finite elements

References
**********
Antonaci, P., Bruno, C.L.E., Gliozzi, A.S., Scalerandi, M., 2010. Monitoring evolution of compressive damage in concrete with linear and nonlinear ultrasonic methods. Cem. Concr. Res. 40, 1106‑1113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.017

Chen G., Pageot D., Legland J.-B., Abraham O., Chekroun M., Tournat V., Numerical modeling of ultrasonic coda wave interferometry in a multiple scattering medium with a localized nonlinear defect, Wave Motion, 72, pp228-243, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wavemoti.2017.03.004

Granger, S., Loukili, A., Pijaudier-Cabot, G., Chanvillard, G., 2007. Experimental characterization of the self-healing of cracks in an ultra high performance cementitious material: Mechanical tests and acoustic emission analysis. Cem. Concr. Res. 37, 519‑527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.12.005

Hassan, A.M.T., Jones, S.W., 2012. Non-destructive testing of ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC): A feasibility study for using ultrasonic and resonant frequency testing techniques. Constr. Build. Mater. 35, 361‑367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.047

Hilloulin, B., Legland, J.-B., Lys, E., Abraham, O., Loukili, A., Grondin, F., Durand, O., Tournat, V., 2016. Monitoring of autogenous crack healing in cementitious materials by the nonlinear modulation of ultrasonic coda waves, 3D microscopy and X-ray microtomography. Constr. Build. Mater. 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.06.138

Hilloulin, B., Zhang, Y., Abraham, O., Loukili, A., Grondin, F., Durand, O., Tournat, V., 2014. Small crack detection in cementitious materials using nonlinear coda wave modulation. NDT E Int. 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2014.08.010
Kim, G., Kim, J.Y., Kurtis, K.E., Jacobs, L.J., 2017. Drying shrinkage in concrete assessed by nonlinear ultrasound. Cem. Concr. Res. 92, 16‑20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.11.010

Legland J.-B., Zhang Y., Abraham O., Durand O., Tournat V., Evaluation of crack status in a meter-size concrete structure using the ultrasonic nonlinear coda wave interferometry, JASA, 142, 2233, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.5007832

Pimienta, P., Chanvillard, G., 2005. Durability of UHPFRC specimens kept in various aggressive environments, in: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference On Durability of Building Materials and Components LYON [France] 17-20 April 2005.

Tsioulou, O., Lampropoulos, A., Paschalis, S., 2017. Combined Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method for the evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC). Constr. Build. Mater. 131, 66‑77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.11.068

Wang, J.Y., Guo, J.Y., 2018. Damage investigation of ultra high performance concrete under direct tensile test using acoustic emission techniques. Cem. Concr. Compos. 88, 17‑28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.01.007

Wang, W., Liu, J., Agostini, F., Davy, C.A., Skoczylas, F., Corvez, D., 2014. Durability of an Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) under progressive aging. Cem. Concr. Res. 55, 1‑13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.09.008

Zhang, Y., Abraham, O., Grondin, F., Loukili, A., Tournat, V., Le Duff, A., Lascoup, B., Durand, O., 2012. Study of stress-induced velocity variation in concrete under direct tensile force and monitoring of the damage level by using thermally-compensated Coda Wave Interferometry. Ultrasonics 52, 1038‑1045. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2012.08.011

Keywords : Nonlinear coda wave interferometry, Inverse problem, Ultrasonics, Non Destructive Evaluation, Imagery, NCWI, coda, concrete, UHPFRC

Main host Laboratory - Referent Advisor	-
Director of the main host Laboratory	-
PhD Speciality	Acoustique
Axis of the performance contract	2 - COP2017 - More efficient and resilient infrastructure
Main location	Nantes
Doctoral affiliation	ECOLE CENTRALE NANTES
PhD school	Sciences de l'Ingénierie et des Systèmes (SIS)
Planned PhD supervisor	ABRAHAM Odile - Université Gustave Eiffel - GERS - GeoEND
Planned PhD co-supervisor	TOURNAT Vincent - CNRS - LAUM
Planned financing	Contrat doctoral - Ifsttar
Abstract Background ********* The development of structures with high added value exposed to severe environmental conditions requires the development and monitoring of innovative cement materials that are adapted to each situation. This is particularly the case for applications such as floating wind turbines, certain solar parks, new generation nuclear power stations or for the extension of the life of existing plants. As a result, the subject of non-destructive testing of ultra-high performance concretes has been gaining interest for the past ten years. The acoustic emission technique has, for example, been successfully applied to ultra high performance concrete matrices in order to monitor their cracking and healing (Granger et al., 2007) and has been studied for formulations including fibers in the context of the location of cracks (Wang and Guo, 2018) with the limitations of the method such as carrying out tests during mechanical loading. Linear ultrasonic methods, such as ultrasonic wave velocity measurement, have proved their value and have allowed the measurement of elastic properties as can be done conventionally for ordinary non-fiber concrete (Hassan and Jones, 2012). It is also interesting to note that the combination of several non-destructive methods is an interesting way to characterize these cementitious materials (Tsioulou et al., 2017). Nevertheless, the fine characterization of the cracking of these materials and their process of appearance remain little studied with regard to the rapid development of their use for the realization of sensitive works. At the same time, the non-linear acoustic methods developed over the last few years on ordinary cementitious materials make it possible to access additional information, sometimes more precise than linear methods, and this earlier. They made it possible to monitor the damage (Antonaci et al., 2010), the microcracking and its healing (Hilloulin et al., 2016, 2014, Zhang et al., 2012) and the withdrawal (Kim et al. al., 2017). Thus the location of imaging cracking and especially its regular and non-intrusive characterization throughout the lifetime of these critical ultra-high performance concrete structures offers many research perspectives. Objectives ****** Nonlinear CODA wave interferometry (NCWI) tracks in laboratory (Hilloulin et al, 2016, 2014. Zhang et al, 2012.) and in situ (Legland et al, 2017) early damage of very heterogeneous materials like concrete. Very recent work links the new NCWI observables, initially obtained only experimentally, to intrinsic properties of the cracked zones via numerical modeling with the spectral element method (Chen et al., 2017). Laws connecting dimensions of the cracked area, its actual viscoelastic properties, the sizes of cracks to NCWI observables were obtained numerically and experimentally and validated in the laboratory on model materials with controlled cracks. In continuation of this work, the aim of the thesis is to develop and validate an imaging method that, with nonlinear NCWI observables, will locate and characterize in heterogeneous environments cracks or microcraked areas inaccessible to linear ultrasonic imaging methods. It will be a question of locating, dimensioning and quantifying the level of damage of cracked zones with a non-linear pump probe acoustic method which combines a low frequency wave which modifies the contacts at the level of crack lips with a high frequency wave, the coda, which has the sensitivity needed to detect these changes. The development of the inverse problem will initially rely on highly heterogeneous media with well-known localized nonlinearities. Numerical (spectral elements) and experimental work on controlled media (such as a perforated steel plate with acoustic contact non-linearities simulated by screws), will test the relevance and robustness of the chosen inverse problem. It will then be necessary to develop tools for the design of an optimal and operational experimental protocol in relation to the real environment chosen: ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete. Required profile ********** Wave propagation (acoustic, seismic, ultrasound) Inverse problem Signal and data processing, instrumentation Python, Matlab or Scilab - or other tools for scientific computing Finite differences / finite elements References ******** Antonaci, P., Bruno, C.L.E., Gliozzi, A.S., Scalerandi, M., 2010. Monitoring evolution of compressive damage in concrete with linear and nonlinear ultrasonic methods. Cem. Concr. Res. 40, 1106‑1113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2010.02.017 Chen G., Pageot D., Legland J.-B., Abraham O., Chekroun M., Tournat V., Numerical modeling of ultrasonic coda wave interferometry in a multiple scattering medium with a localized nonlinear defect, Wave Motion, 72, pp228-243, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wavemoti.2017.03.004 Granger, S., Loukili, A., Pijaudier-Cabot, G., Chanvillard, G., 2007. Experimental characterization of the self-healing of cracks in an ultra high performance cementitious material: Mechanical tests and acoustic emission analysis. Cem. Concr. Res. 37, 519‑527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2006.12.005 Hassan, A.M.T., Jones, S.W., 2012. Non-destructive testing of ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC): A feasibility study for using ultrasonic and resonant frequency testing techniques. Constr. Build. Mater. 35, 361‑367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.04.047 Hilloulin, B., Legland, J.-B., Lys, E., Abraham, O., Loukili, A., Grondin, F., Durand, O., Tournat, V., 2016. Monitoring of autogenous crack healing in cementitious materials by the nonlinear modulation of ultrasonic coda waves, 3D microscopy and X-ray microtomography. Constr. Build. Mater. 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.06.138 Hilloulin, B., Zhang, Y., Abraham, O., Loukili, A., Grondin, F., Durand, O., Tournat, V., 2014. Small crack detection in cementitious materials using nonlinear coda wave modulation. NDT E Int. 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2014.08.010 Kim, G., Kim, J.Y., Kurtis, K.E., Jacobs, L.J., 2017. Drying shrinkage in concrete assessed by nonlinear ultrasound. Cem. Concr. Res. 92, 16‑20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.11.010 Legland J.-B., Zhang Y., Abraham O., Durand O., Tournat V., Evaluation of crack status in a meter-size concrete structure using the ultrasonic nonlinear coda wave interferometry, JASA, 142, 2233, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1121/1.5007832 Pimienta, P., Chanvillard, G., 2005. Durability of UHPFRC specimens kept in various aggressive environments, in: Proceedings of the 10th International Conference On Durability of Building Materials and Components LYON [France] 17-20 April 2005. Tsioulou, O., Lampropoulos, A., Paschalis, S., 2017. Combined Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method for the evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of Ultra High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC). Constr. Build. Mater. 131, 66‑77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.11.068 Wang, J.Y., Guo, J.Y., 2018. Damage investigation of ultra high performance concrete under direct tensile test using acoustic emission techniques. Cem. Concr. Compos. 88, 17‑28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2018.01.007 Wang, W., Liu, J., Agostini, F., Davy, C.A., Skoczylas, F., Corvez, D., 2014. Durability of an Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) under progressive aging. Cem. Concr. Res. 55, 1‑13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.09.008 Zhang, Y., Abraham, O., Grondin, F., Loukili, A., Tournat, V., Le Duff, A., Lascoup, B., Durand, O., 2012. Study of stress-induced velocity variation in concrete under direct tensile force and monitoring of the damage level by using thermally-compensated Coda Wave Interferometry. Ultrasonics 52, 1038‑1045. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2012.08.011
Keywords :	Nonlinear coda wave interferometry, Inverse problem, Ultrasonics, Non Destructive Evaluation, Imagery, NCWI, coda, concrete, UHPFRC

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