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Title: Simulation of Wave Propagation for Nuclear Facility Acoustic Communications

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1480538· OSTI ID:1480538
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States); St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Lemont, IL (United States)

Elastic waves are often used in non-destructive testing (NDT) to detect material defects in metal pipes. In NDT methodology, high-frequency elastic waves are launched into a pipe with an ultrasonic transducer. Material defects comparable in size to wavelength scatter ultrasonic waves, and analysis of scattered signal allows quantifying the defect and its location. As a variation of NDT technology, ultrasonic transducers placed at the ends of a pipe, and operating at wavelengths larger than typical micro-crack sizes, can act as a transmitter and receiver of information. By modulating transducer signal to send information encoded with elastic waves across a metal pipe, we attempt to create a communication channel. By taking advantage of existing piping infrastructure of thermal hydraulic systems, such communication links would allow the transmission of information across physical barriers in a nuclear facility.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies (NEET)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1480538
Report Number(s):
ANL/NSE-18/6; 146404; TRN: US1902665
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English