The metamaterial enhances ultrasonic testing, enabling round wave detection for improved defect identification in industrial and medical purposes.

For the primary time, a joint analysis workforce led by Senior Researcher Min-woo Kweun from KIMM’s Division of Nano Gadgets & Shows and Distinguished Professor Yoon Younger Kim from SNU’s Division of Mechanical Engineering has developed a metamaterial that may theoretically convert linear ultrasonic wave vibrations into round vibrations and has a three-dimensional microstructure.

The workforce initially found the distinctive anisotropic properties of an ultrasonic medium that converts linear vibration mode ultrasonic waves, that are simply generated, into the more difficult round vibration mode ultrasonic waves. To fulfill this requirement, they then designed a metamaterial with a microstructure that includes three-dimensional cylindrical holes. The workforce efficiently measured the transformed round vibration mode ultrasound via ultrasonic experiments.

Linear vibration mode ultrasound, or shear ultrasound, is often utilized in ultrasonic non-destructive testing to detect weld and plate defects. Nevertheless, when the defect’s path is parallel to the linear vibration’s path, its reflectivity in ultrasonic waves turns into extraordinarily low, making it tough to detect the returning ultrasonic sign.

In distinction, the brand new metamaterial know-how can convert linear shear ultrasonic waves into round shear ultrasonic waves. Moreover, producing round vibration mode ultrasonic waves with considerably excessive effectivity is feasible utilizing a small variety of simplified cylindrical microstructures and low-loss metallic supplies.

Senior Researcher Min-woo Kweun of the KIMM mentioned, “We have now developed a brand new ultrasonic mode able to additional enhancing the defect detection performance of present ultrasonic applied sciences.” He added, “We’ll do our utmost efforts in order that this new know-how can be utilized in industrial ultrasonic non-destructive testing and ultrasound imaging sooner or later.”