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Journal articleZhang Y, Cegla F, 2026,
Quantitative evaluation of the reliability of hybrid corrosion inspection and monitoring approaches
, NDT & E INTERNATIONAL, Vol: 158, ISSN: 0963-8695 -
Journal articleNichita A, Zhang Y, Cegla F, 2026,
Automated image stitching of ultrasonic C-scan thickness data
, NDT & E INTERNATIONAL, Vol: 158, ISSN: 0963-8695 -
Journal articleSarris G, Lowe MJS, Huthwaite P, 2026,
Interpolation techniques for ultrasonic data
, Ultrasonics, Vol: 158, ISSN: 0041-624XMany applications where ultrasound is used for diagnostics exist where limited data is preventing a particular approach from being fully exploited; for example, sufficient data availability would allow the qualification of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods in-silico, and would potentially also enable the training of machine learning algorithms related to ultrasound and its applications. Real, experimental ultrasonic data is often scarce, and while it is already known that finite element (FE) modelling produces data which is sufficiently realistic to augment real data, the computational cost associated with its generation at the scales required for the aforementioned purposes is often prohibitive. In this work, we propose the use of interpolation techniques in combination with results from FE modelling to rapidly generate more data without the need to solve additional FE models. We present the relevant methods to achieve this, and validate them through four exemplary cases of increasing complexity. Validation is achieved through the comparison of interpolation-generated results to those generated by full FE modelling, demonstrating that our method is capable of producing results for different physical setups and signals of various degrees of complexity. The results were typically within less than 1% away from the expected, but generated at a fraction of the typical computational cost, and, while the validation cases examined are of interest to the NDE community, the method extends to other fields where ultrasonic data is of interest.
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Journal articleSarris G, Lowe MJS, Huthwaite P, 2026,
Ultrasonic signal decomposition through gradient descent assisted successive parameter estimation
, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, Vol: 243, ISSN: 0888-3270Accurate decomposition of ultrasonic signals into simple pulses is valuable both for data compression purposes, as well as various medical and engineering applications. This work proposes a matching pursuit (MP) based algorithm that deploys a traditional successive parameter estimation approach, to express ultrasonic signals as sums of Gaussian pulses or chirplets. However, here the MP algorithm is aided by mathematical optimisation (gradient descent), which allows for significantly more precise parameter estimation. Our method is validated on simple input signals, and following its validation, its performance is assessed against cases of increasing complexity. The results not only suggest the accuracy and robustness of our approach, but also show how the proposed method performs well with signals containing strongly overlapping pulses, a challenge for existing methods. Results are also obtained from realistic signals generated through finite element modelling or experimental measurements. Finally, beyond the reconstruction results, we discuss and demonstrate how even complicated signals are well described through only a few parameters, eliminating the need for storing full time traces, allowing for effective ultrasonic data compression.
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Journal articleSarris G, Lowe MJS, Huthwaite P, 2026,
Generation of ultrasonic data through high-order interpolation
, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Pages: 1-1 -
Journal articleQadri AM, Huthwaite P, Lowe M, et al., 2025,
Assessing accuracy of an efficient analytical-finite element framework for modelling guided wave scattering from corrosion defects in pipes
, NDT & E INTERNATIONAL, Vol: 156, ISSN: 0963-8695 -
Journal articleChallinor C, Cegla F, 2025,
On the robustness of coded excitation in ultrasonic acquisition systems
, Ultrasonics, Vol: 155, ISSN: 0041-624XCoded excitation has been shown to be a simple yet effective technique for improving signal quality in ultrasonic active ranging applications. Despite many reported benefits, uptake of coded excitation in industrial applications to date has been minimal. The authors speculate that this can be in part attributed to a lack of understanding of the robustness of the technique in practical use. To combat this, this paper reports on research into the main mechanisms that can introduce performance degradation and describes the effect of the two most important mechanisms, referred to as symbol asymmetry and symbol misalignment. These mechanisms lower output signal quality through the introduction of unexpected signal artifacts, as well as by reducing useful signal amplitude. We show how symbol asymmetry can be introduced through hardware imperfections and the relative degradation severity associated with different imperfection types. We similarly show how symbol misalignment can be introduced when using coded excitation in non-stationary situations. As a result, we formulate the minimum hardware requirements and inspection conditions required to correctly utilise coded excitation such that users can be confident of achieving high quality outcomes. We quantitatively simulate and experimentally verify the output signal degradation across many scenarios to identify the operating conditions that need to be satisfied to ensure that degradation does not exceed an arbitrarily chosen threshold of 40 dB (the noise floor from random noise in our experimental setup).
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Journal articleRen Y, Huang M, Liu G, et al., 2025,
Decoding coupled mechanical-electrochemical responses in multi-layer batteries via generalized ultrasonic dynamics
, Energy Storage Materials, ISSN: 2405-8297Characterizing and understanding internal battery physics is essential for stability, safety, and recyclability. Ultrasound provides a non-destructive solution by encoding battery dynamics into mechanical waves. However, the complex multi-layer structure and coupled mechanical-electrochemical behaviors of commercial cells hinder standardized and physically interpretable ultrasonic testing. This study presents a unified ultrasonic framework for multi-layer pouch cells, linking wave dynamics to battery structures, materials, and states across frequency and time domains. Inspired by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, we examine structure- and state-waveform relationships of batteries under various excitation conditions, decoding ultrasonic responses related to mechanical and electrochemical factors in a generalizable manner. Using first-principles modeling and frequency sweep experiments, we identify battery-specific frequency bandstructures and wave modulation signatures tied to cell architecture and cathode chemistry, allowing mechanical discrimination of these factors in electrochemically steady states. In-operando tests demonstrate that changes in localized ultrasonic resonance associated with shifting bandstructure can map variations in battery state of charge, with the evolution of anode material stiffness as a key driving mechanism. This work establishes a physics-grounded foundation for understanding wave-battery interactions and is expected to guide the development of high-sensitivity, task-specific tools and diagnostic strategies across the in-laboratory, post-manufacture, and in-service stages of a battery’s lifecycle.
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Journal articleXu P, Sarris G, Jones R, et al., 2025,
A digital twin-based framework for reliability estimation in ultrasonic guided wave structural health monitoring systems with temperature variations
, MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Vol: 235, ISSN: 0888-3270- Cite
- Citations: 1
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Journal articleChung-Jukko A, Huthwaite P, 2025,
Virtual initialised ray tomography: towards contact-free realistic ultrasonic bone imaging
, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, Vol: 158, Pages: 276-290, ISSN: 0001-4966Ultrasound tomography struggles with high-contrast and/or extended-range problems, such as site-specific in vivo bone imaging, which is crucial for assessing fracture risk. Two main obstacles arise: (a) an external region prohibits access to the region of interest (ROI), and (b) high contrast exists between the two regions. These challenges hinder existing algorithms—including bent-ray tomography (BRT). Virtual initialised ray tomography (VIRT) is proposed, which addresses these challenges through: (a) placement of virtual transducers on the ROI, facilitating (b) rapid initialisation before BRT inversion. In silico validation against BRT with and without prior information shows superior resolution and robustness, while improving computational speed. Validation against BRT directly on the ROI shows that VIRT is approaching the resolution limit. Additionally, VIRT performs well under 20 dB signal-to-noise ratio. The ability to solve high-contrast extended-range tomography problems without prior knowledge about the ROI’s interior has many implications. VIRT has the potential to unlock site-specific in vivo bone imaging for assessing fracture risk. It may also replace BRT to improve resolution, robustness and computational speed—especially where the ROI does not cover the entire imaging array.
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Journal articleXu P, Jones R, Sarris G, et al., 2026,
Efficient generation of realistic guided wave signals for reliability estimation
, STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, ISSN: 1475-9217- Cite
- Citations: 2
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Journal articleMroszczak M, Jones RE, Huthwaite P, et al., 2025,
Transfer learning in guided wave testing of pipes
, MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Vol: 224, ISSN: 0888-3270 -
Journal articleMroszczak M, Mariani S, Huthwaite P, 2024,
Improved Limited-View Ultrasound Tomography via Machine Learning
, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS FERROELECTRICS AND FREQUENCY CONTROL, Vol: 71, Pages: 1906-1914, ISSN: 0885-3010 -
Journal articleZuo P, Huthwaite P, 2024,
Guided wave tomography for quantitative thickness mapping using non-dispersive SH0 mode through geometrical full waveform inversion (GFWI)
, PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES, Vol: 480, ISSN: 1364-5021 -
Journal articleGil B, Hall TAG, Freeman DME, et al., 2024,
Wireless implantable bioelectronics with a direct electron transfer lactate enzyme for detection of surgical site infection in orthopaedics
, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Vol: 263, ISSN: 0956-5663Periprosthetic infection is one of the most devastating complications following orthopaedic surgery. Rapid detection of an infection can change the treatment pathway and improve outcomes for the patient. In here, we propose a miniaturized lactate biosensor developed on a flexible substrate and integrated on a small-form bone implant to detect infection. The methods for lactate biosensor fabrication and integration on a bone implant are fully described within this study. The system performance was comprehensively electrochemically characterised, including with L-lactate solutions prepared in phosphate-buffered saline and culture medium, and interferents such as acetaminophen and ascorbic acid. A proof-of-concept demonstration was then conducted with ex vivo ovine femoral heads incubated with and without exposure to Staphylococcus epidermidis. The sensitivity, current density and limit-of-detection levels achieved by the biosensor were 1.25 μA mM-1, 1.51 μA.M-1.mm-2 and 66 μM, respectively. The system was insensitive to acetaminophen, while sensitivity to ascorbic acid was half that of the sensitivity to L-lactate. In the ex vivo bone model, S. epidermidis infection was detected within 5 h of implantation, while the control sample led to no change in the sensor readings. This pioneering work demonstrates a pathway to improving orthopaedic outcomes by enabling early infection diagnosis.
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Journal articleChallinor C, Cegla F, 2024,
Pulse compression with and without matched filtering: why codes beat chirps
, NDT and E International, Vol: 147, ISSN: 0963-8695Pulse compression based excitation signals have been shown to improve signal quality in many active ranging applications without negatively impacting range resolution. Most prior work into using pulse compression presents the technique as if matched filtering is necessary to successfully achieve signal compression. Matched filtering against modulated excitation signals does result in useful information compression, however, it also suppresses information outside of the bandwidth of the transmission signal. This can distort or remove useful information in some applications, such as ultrasonic guided wave inspections, making the processing step unsuitable. In this paper, we show that when pulse compression with coded excitation is employed, a second filtering option is available for compressing the modulated information. The second option, which we have termed the sequence filter, utilises sequence elements as the template against which the filtering of coded excitation measurements is undertaken, thereby allowing compression to be achieved independent of received signal frequency content. We verify that sequence filtering successfully produces signal compression in two experimental ultrasound non-destructive testing applications where frequency modulated pulse compression was unsuitable. With both sequence filtering and matched filtering, we show signal-to-noise ratio gains in excess of 20 dB from using pulse compression.
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Journal articleWest G, Haslinger S, Bamber J, et al., 2024,
Simulation of ultrasound backscatter coefficient measurement using the finite element method
, ULTRASONICS, Vol: 143, ISSN: 0041-624X -
Journal articleSimillides Y, Huthwaite P, Kalkowski MK, et al., 2024,
A displacement-based finite element formulation for solving elastic wave problems in coupled fluid-solid media on a GPU
, Computers and Structures, Vol: 299, ISSN: 0045-7949Ultrasonic wave propagation and scattering involving both solids and fluids underpins many key configurations in non-destructive testing and underwater acoustics. The resulting interactions are highly dependent on both material parameters and geometries and are difficult and expensive to investigate experimentally. Modelling capabilities are often used to overcome this, but these are also complex and computationally expensive due to the complexity of the fluid-solid interactions. We introduce a novel explicit time-domain finite element method for simulating ultrasonic waves interacting with fluid-solid interfaces. The method is displacement-based, and relies on classical hourglassing control, in addition to a modified time-stepping scheme to damping out shear motion in an inviscid fluid. One of the key benefits of the displacement-based approach is that nodes in the fluid have the same number of degrees of freedom as those in the solid. Therefore defining a fluid-solid model is as easy as defining an all-fluid or all-solid model, avoiding the need for any special treatments at the interfaces. It is thus compatible with typical elastodynamic finite element formulations and ready for implementation on a graphical processing unit. We verified the method across a range of problems involving millions of degrees of freedom in fields such as non-destructive testing and underwater acoustics.
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Journal articleKuder I, Rock M, Jones G, et al., 2024,
An optimization approach for creating application-specific ultrasound speckle tracking algorithms
, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Vol: 50, Pages: 1108-1121, ISSN: 0301-5629Objective:Ultrasound speckle tracking enables in vivo measurement of soft tissue deformation or strain, providing a non-invasive diagnostic tool to quantify tissue health. However, adoption into new fields is challenging since algorithms need to be tuned with gold-standard reference data that are expensive or impractical to acquire. Here, we present a novel optimization approach that only requires repeated measurements, which can be acquired for new applications where reference data might not be readily available or difficult to get hold of.Methods:Soft tissue motion was captured using ultrasound for the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of three quasi-statically loaded porcine stifle joints, and medial ligamentous structures of a dynamically loaded human cadaveric knee joint. Using a training subset, custom speckle tracking algorithms were created for the porcine and human ligaments using surrogate optimization, which aimed to maximize repeatability by minimizing the normalized standard deviation of calculated strain maps for repeat measurements. An unseen test subset was then used to validate the tuned algorithms by comparing the ultrasound strains to digital image correlation (DIC) surface strains (porcine specimens) and length change values of the optically tracked ligament attachments (human specimens).Results:After 1500 iterations, the optimization routine based on the porcine and human training data converged to similar values of normalized standard deviations of repeat strain maps (porcine: 0.19, human: 0.26). Ultrasound strains calculated for the independent test sets using the tuned algorithms closely matched the DIC measurements for the porcine quasi-static measurements (R > 0.99, RMSE < 0.59%) and the length change between the tracked ligament attachments for the dynamic human dataset (RMSE < 6.28%). Furthermore, strains in the medial ligamentous structures of the human specimen during flexion showed a strong correlation with anterior/posterior p
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Journal articleChallinor C, Cegla F, 2024,
Alternative coded excitation for multi-channel low-power ultrasonics
, e-Journal of Nondestructive Testing, Vol: 29<jats:p>Coded excitation is a well-researched signal processing technique that employs phase modulations to improve signal quality in acquired A-scan ultrasonic timetraces. By utilising phase modulations based on sequences with favourable time-compression properties, total excitation energy can be increased. This directly improves Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) without necessitating an increase in peak output power or reducing range resolution. Most prior research into this topic has focussed on understanding how typical ultrasonic inspection systems can be improved by incorporating coded excitations. This work instead highlights the benefits of an ultrasonic inspection system that is designed especially for coded excitations.Traditional systems ensure a high SNR by using high-voltage excitations, isolation circuits and pre-amplifiers before received signal digitisation. Instead, in this work we propose the use of low-voltage transmissions amplitudes which are within the operating range of the receiver components such that receiver isolation is not required. This removes the limitation on applicable sequence lengths for coded excitation measurements. Therefore, ever increasing sequence lengths can be utilised to improve the measurement SNR without increasing signal dead-zone. Further, this opens the possibility of using different types of sequence which can achieve quasi-ideal compression from a single transmission event, and facilitates the use of quasi-orthogonality for suppressing crosstalk during simultaneous operation of multi-channel systems. Through physical experiments, we show how this low-power coded approach can be utilised to match the performance (45dB SNR) of conventional high voltage systems (200V transmission amplitude with 15dB receiver amplification) whilst using only +/-2V transmission signals (40dB reduction in peak excitation power). The ability to remove inefficient high-voltage transmission hardware by adopting this technique can open the d
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