The assessment of viscoelastic properties of soft tissues is enjoying a growing interest in the field of medical imaging as pathologies are often correlated with a local change of stiffness. To date, advanced techniques in that field have been concentrating on the estimation of the second order elastic modulus (mu). In this paper, the nonlinear behavior of quasi-incompressible soft solids is investigated using the supersonic shear imaging technique based on the remote generation of polarized plane shear waves in tissues induced by the acoustic radiation force. Applying a theoretical approach of the strain energy in soft solid [Hamilton et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 41-44 (2004)], it is shown that the well-known acoustoelasticity experiment allowing the recovery of higher order elastic moduli can be greatly simplified. Experimentally, it requires measurements of the local speed of polarized plane shear waves in a statically and uniaxially stressed isotropic medium. These shear wave speed estimates are obtained by imaging the shear wave propagation in soft media with an ultrafast echographic scanner. In this situation, the uniaxial static stress induces anisotropy due to the nonlinear effects and results in a change of shear wave speed. Then the third order elastic modulus (A) is measured in agar-gelatin-based phantoms and polyvinyl alcohol based phantoms.
Numerical simulation of nonlinear acoustics and shock waves in a weakly heterogeneous and lossless medium is considered. The wave equation is formulated so as to separate homogeneous diffraction, heterogeneous effects, and nonlinearities. A numerical method called heterogeneous one-way approximation for resolution of diffraction (HOWARD) is developed, that solves the homogeneous part of the equation in the spectral domain (both in time and space) through a one-way approximation neglecting backscattering. A second-order parabolic approximation is performed but only on the small, heterogeneous part. So the resulting equation is more precise than the usual standard or wide-angle parabolic approximation. It has the same dispersion equation as the exact wave equation for all forward propagating waves, including evanescent waves. Finally, nonlinear terms are treated through an analytical, shock-fitting method. Several validation tests are performed through comparisons with analytical solutions in the linear case and outputs of the standard or wide-angle parabolic approximation in the nonlinear case. Numerical convergence tests and physical analysis are finally performed in the fully heterogeneous and nonlinear case of shock wave focusing through an acoustical lens.
Non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring systems based on ultrasonic guided waves propagation are particularly used in civil engineering or aerospace applications. Guided waves are commonly employed as they propagate through large distances and can inspect the entire cross-section of the structure. In order to optimize the sensitivity to a specific damage type, it is often preferable to generate a carefully selected pure mode. Although single-mode generation has been achieved for Lamb waves in infinite plate-like structures, such generation is much harder in a rectangular bar since less conventional modes propagate in finite cross-section waveguides. This article presents a general methodology for mode selective generation in a finite cross-section waveguide, using multiple transducers. Obtaining modal identification through conventional spatial Fourier transform on a longitudinal scan has proven to be inconvenient for waveguides with a two-dimensional cross-section. An alternative technique is proposed, consisting in the decomposition over the modal basis of the three displacement components measured across the bar width at the bar surface. The methodology is applied to the single-mode generation within an aluminum bar instrumented with eight piezoelectric transducers bonded to the surface. The modal basis is obtained with a semi-analytical finite element method. Numerical simulations and experiments using a three-dimensional laser Doppler vibrometer are conducted in order to validate the methodology.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.