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Open AccessArticle
Research on the Vector Coherent Factor Threshold Total Focusing Imaging Method for Austenitic Stainless Steel Based on Material Characteristics
by
Tianwei Zhao
Tianwei Zhao
Mr. Tianwei Zhao received his M.E. degree from South China University of Technology (SCUT). He is a [...]
Mr. Tianwei Zhao received his M.E. degree from South China University of Technology (SCUT). He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree at the School of Resource, Environment, and Safety Engineering, University of South China (USC). Additionally, Mr. Zhao serves as a Researcher of Engineering Technology Application at China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd. (CNI23), with his research focusing on nondestructive testing (NDT) technologies for critical nuclear construction components.
Ziyu Liu
Ziyu Liu
Mr. Ziyu Liu received his M.Eng. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Dalian University [...]
Mr. Ziyu Liu received his M.Eng. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Dalian University of Technology (DUT), Dalian, China, in 2025. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree at the same institution. His research focuses on nondestructive testing and evaluation of materials, particularly advanced ultrasonic imaging techniques for industrial applications. Recently, he published a study titled "Study on Total-Focusing Ultrasonic Imaging of Dual-Crystal Longitudinal Wave Array in Thick-Wall Austenitic Stainless Steel Welds" in the Journal of Applied Acoustics (2025), which proposed a novel method to improve defect detection accuracy in complex weld structures. His work aims to bridge theoretical innovations with practical solutions for safety-critical infrastructure.
Donghui Zhang
Donghui Zhang
Mr. Donghui Zhang received his M.E. degree from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. He currently as [...]
Mr. Donghui Zhang received his M.E. degree from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. He currently serves as a Researcher of Engineering Technology Application at China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd. (CNI23), a core enterprise of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). His research focuses on critical construction technologies and operational safety in nuclear engineering, specializing in nuclear power plant construction methodologies, structural integrity assessment, and risk management systems. Mr. Zhang has developed 20 patented technologies, including a method for inspecting the weld quality of main circuit pipelines in nuclear power plants using phased array ultrasonic testing, and has published 14 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals such as Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing.
Junlong Wang
Junlong Wang
Mr. Junlong Wang received his B.E. degree from Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang, China. He as [...]
Mr. Junlong Wang received his B.E. degree from Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang, China. He currently serves as a Senior Engineer at China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd. (CNI23), a premier nuclear engineering construction enterprise in China. His research focuses on nondestructive testing (NDT) technologies for critical nuclear construction components, with particular expertise in ultrasonic testing methodologies for nuclear-grade materials. Mr. Wang has participated in 19 major research projects, including the pivotal study "Feasibility Research on Ultrasonic Testing as an Alternative to Radiographic Testing for Thick-Wall Carbon Steel Pipeline Welds in Hualong One Nuclear Projects", which established new industry standards for nuclear construction quality control. He has published 11 technical papers in core journals, such as Nondestructive Testing (e.g., "Identification of Phased Array Ultrasonic Circumferential Detection Abnormal Signal at Root of Pipeline Weld," 2022).
Guowen Peng
Guowen Peng
Prof. Guowen Peng received his Ph.D. and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and professor at the [...]
Prof. Guowen Peng received his Ph.D. and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and professor at the University of South China, where he also serves as a doctoral supervisor. He previously served as Vice President of the School of Security Higher Institute and as Head of the Department of Fuel Cycle Technology and Equipment at a national-level institute. His research primarily focuses on radioactive pollution remediation and control in uranium tailings reservoir areas, environmental radiochemistry, and the development of new functional materials. Prof. Peng received the Second Prize of the Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award, led two provincial-level teaching and research reform projects, and has published more than 10 papers on education reform. He has also been recognized with honors such as Outstanding Communist Party Member and Outstanding Educator at the university level.
1
School of Resources, Environment and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
2
China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd., Beijing 101300, China
3
NDT&E Laboratory, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Metals 2025, 15(8), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15080901 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 June 2025
/
Revised: 9 August 2025
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Accepted: 10 August 2025
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Published: 12 August 2025
Abstract
The degree of anisotropy and heterogeneity in coarse-grained materials significantly affects ultrasonic propagation behavior and scattering. This paper proposes a vector coherent factor threshold total focusing imaging method (VCF-T-TFM) for austenitic stainless steel, based on material properties, through a combination of simulation and experimentation. Three types of austenitic stainless steel weld test blocks with varying degrees of heterogeneity were selected containing multiple side-drilled hole defects, each with a diameter of 2 mm. Full-matrix data were collected using a 32-element phased array probe with a center frequency of 5 MHz. The grain size and orientation of the material were quantitatively observed via electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). By combining the instantaneous phase distribution of the TFM image, the coarse-grained material coherence compensation value (CA) and probability threshold (PT) were optimized for different heterogeneous regions, and the vector coherence imaging threshold (γ) was adjusted. The defect imaging results of homogeneous material (carbon steel) and three austenitic stainless steels with different levels of heterogeneity were compared, and the influence of coarse-grained, anisotropic heterogeneous structures on the imaging signal-to-noise ratio was analyzed. The results show that the VCF-T-TFM, which considers the influence of material properties on phase coherence, can suppress structural noise. Compared to compensation results that did not account for material properties, the signal-to-noise ratio was improved by 97.3%.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Zhao, T.; Liu, Z.; Zhang, D.; Wang, J.; Peng, G.
Research on the Vector Coherent Factor Threshold Total Focusing Imaging Method for Austenitic Stainless Steel Based on Material Characteristics. Metals 2025, 15, 901.
https://doi.org/10.3390/met15080901
AMA Style
Zhao T, Liu Z, Zhang D, Wang J, Peng G.
Research on the Vector Coherent Factor Threshold Total Focusing Imaging Method for Austenitic Stainless Steel Based on Material Characteristics. Metals. 2025; 15(8):901.
https://doi.org/10.3390/met15080901
Chicago/Turabian Style
Zhao, Tianwei, Ziyu Liu, Donghui Zhang, Junlong Wang, and Guowen Peng.
2025. "Research on the Vector Coherent Factor Threshold Total Focusing Imaging Method for Austenitic Stainless Steel Based on Material Characteristics" Metals 15, no. 8: 901.
https://doi.org/10.3390/met15080901
APA Style
Zhao, T., Liu, Z., Zhang, D., Wang, J., & Peng, G.
(2025). Research on the Vector Coherent Factor Threshold Total Focusing Imaging Method for Austenitic Stainless Steel Based on Material Characteristics. Metals, 15(8), 901.
https://doi.org/10.3390/met15080901
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