Study on the Influence of Material Inhomogeneity on Characteristics of Ultrasonic Wave Propagation

It is required to maintain the durability of concrete structures from the viewpoint of the proper control of maintenance. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the soundness of the structures. The ultrasonic wave method which is one of nondestructive tests is tried to use as an evaluate method. In the case of the object in which density is high and its distribution is homogeneous, the ultrasonic wave can detect defects correctly. However, a concrete is inhomogeneous, and the wave spreads intricately if it comes to a crack or a discontinuous portion. Therefore, the range and usefulness of applicability of the ultrasonic wave method are indefinite. In order to apply the ultrasonic wave method to concrete structures, it is necessary to grasp the influence of the properties of the concrete on the propagation of the wave. In this study, numerical analyses are conducted with considering the inhomogeneous of the concrete to check the applicability of the ultrasonic wave to the concrete.