The effect of stress on Lamb wave propagation is relevant to both nondestructive evaluation and structural health monitoring because of changes in received signals due to both the associated strain and the acoustoelastic effect. A homogeneous plate that is initially isotropic becomes anisotropic under biaxial stress, and dispersion of propagating waves becomes directionally dependent. The problem is similar to Lamb wave propagation in an anisotropic plate, except the fourth order tensor in the resulting wave equation does not have the same symmetry as that for the unstressed anisotropic plate, and the constitutive equation relating incremental stress to incremental strain is more complicated. Here we review the theory of acoustoelastic and develop theory for acoustoelastic Lamb wave propagation and show how dispersion curves shift anisotropically for an aluminum plate under biaxial tension. We also develop an approximate method using the effective elastic constants (EECs) and show that existing commercial tools to generate dispersion curves can be used under restricted conditions to describe wave propagation in biaxially stressed plates. Predictions of changes in phase velocity as a function of propagation direction using theory and the EEC method are compared to experimental results for a single wave mode.

For successful identification of structural defects in plates and pipes, it is essential to understand structural wave propagation characteristics such as dispersion relations. Analytical approaches to identify the dispersion relations of homogeneous, simple plates and circular pipes have been investigated by many researchers. However, for plates or pipes with irregular cross-sectional configurations or multi-layered composite structures, it is almost impossible to obtain the analytical dispersion relations and associated mode shapes. In addition, full numerical modeling approaches such as finite element (FE) methods are not economically feasible for high (e.g., ultrasonic) frequency analyses where an extremely large number of discretized meshes are required, resulting in significantly expensive computation. In order to address these limitations, Hybrid Analytical/Finite Element Methods (HAFEMs) are developed to model composite plates and pipes in a computationally-efficient manner. When a pipe system is used to transport a fluid, the dispersion curves obtained from a “hollow” pipe model can mislead non-destructive evaluation (NDE) results of the pipe system. In this study, the HAFEM procedure with solid elements is extended by developing fluid elements and solid-fluid boundary conditions, resulting in the dispersion curves of fluid-filled pipes. In addition, a HAFEM-based acoustic transfer function approach is suggested to consider a long pipe system assembled with multiple pipe sections with different cross-sections. For the validation of the proposed methods, experimental and full FE modeling results are compared to the results obtained from the HAFEM models. In order to detect structural defect locations in shell structures from defect-induced, subtle wave reflection signals and eliminate direct-excitation-induced and boundary-reflected, relatively-strong wave signals, a time-frequency MUSIC algorithm is applied to ultrasonic wave data measured by using an array of piezoelectric transducers. A normalized, structurally-damped, cylindrical 2-D steering vector is proposed to increase the spatial resolution of time-frequency MUSIC power results. A cross-shaped array is selected over a circular or linear array to further improve the spatial resolution and to avoid the mirrored virtual image effects of a linear array. Here, it is experimentally demonstrated that the proposed time-frequency MUSIC beamforming procedure can be used to identify structural defect locations on an aluminum plate by distinguishing the defect-induced waves from both the excitation-generated and boundary-reflected waves.

Neste trabalho, é apresentada uma formulação apropriada à análise de guias de ondas eletromagnéticos, cobrindo do espectro de microondas até o da óptica. Nas regiões a partir do ultravioleta, os comprimentos de onda são equivalentes às dimensões atômicas e a formulação necessita de uma abordagem quântica, que não é considerada neste estudo. A formulação é fundamentada nos métodos vetorial magnético e dos elementos finitos (MEF), em meios não homogêneos, anisotrópicos e não dissipativos, embora a dissipação possa ser facilmente introduzida na análise. Deu-se preferência à formulação com o campo magnético em vez do elétrico, pelo fato do campo magnético ignorar descontinuidades elétricas. Ele é contínuo em regiões de permeabilidade homogênea, propriedade dos meios dielétricos em geral ( = 0), independente da permissividade dos respectivos meios, conquanto os campos elétricos sejam descontínuos entre regiões de permissividades diferentes. / This work presents a suitable formulation to the analysis of electromagnetic waveguide, covering the spectrum of the microwave to optics. In regions from the ultraviolet, the wavelengths are equivalent to atomic dimensions and the design needs a quantum approach, which is not considered in this study. The formulation is based on the magnetic vector and the finite element methods (FEM), in non-homogeneous, anisotropic and non-dissipative dielectric materials, while the dissipation can be easily introduced in the analysis. Preference was given to the formulation with the magnetic field, because the magnetic field ignores electrical discontinuities. It is continuous in regions of homogeneous permeability, property of all dielectric materials (=0), independent of the permissiveness of respective regions, while electric fields are discontinuous between regions of different permittivities.

Cette thèse porte sur la propagation des ondes magnéto-électro-élastiques dans les structures inhomogènes, et tout particulièrement de l’effet d’un champ magnétique externe sur des structures multicouches et des cristaux phononiques combinant des matériaux à la fois piézoélectriques et magnéto-élastiques. Pour déterminer les caractéristiques des ondes se propageant dans ces structures magnéto-électro-élastiques, un modèle de matériau piézomagnétique équivalent à un matériau magnéto-élastique en couche mince, polarisé à saturation autour d’une position d’équilibre définie par l’orientation et l’amplitude d’un champ magnétique externe appliqué à celui-ci, est développé. Il est combiné à une méthode originale de calcul des courbes de dispersion dans les multicouches, basée sur une décomposition en polynômes de Legendre pour les couches d’épaisseur finie, et en polynômes de Laguerre pour le substrat semi-infini. Ce modèle est utilisé pour le cas d’un film mince de TbCo2/FeCo, présentant une anisotropie magnétique uni-axiale dans le plan et une magnétostriction géante, déposé sur un substrat de LiNbO3 sous forme de film ou en réseau de plots cylindriques. On montre que dans ce dernier cas, correspondant à un cristal phononique magnéto-élastiques à résonance locale, il est possible de contrôler sans aucun contact la structure de bande par l’application d’un champ magnétique externe. Ainsi, une sensibilité de 50 kHz par Oersted a été calculée pour une bande plate située dans le gap de Bragg d’un tel cristal phononique. Cette sensibilité est suffisante pour envisager une application du dispositif comme un détecteur très sensible de champs magnétiques localisés / This thesis focuses on the propagation of magneto-electro-elastic waves in inhomogeneous structures, and in particular the effect of an external magnetic field on multilayer structures and on phononic crystals that combine both piezoelectric and magneto-elastic materials. To determine the characteristics of waves propagating in magneto-electro-elastic structures, an effective piezomagnetic material model, equivalents to a thin layer of magneto-elastic material, is developed. The thin layer is polarized to saturation around the equilibrium position defined by the direction and amplitude of an external magnetic field. This model is combined with a method of dispersion curves calculation in multilayer structures, based on a decomposition in Legendre polynomials for layers of finite thickness and Laguerre polynomials for a semi-infinite substrate. The model is used for the case of a TbCo2/FeCo thin film, presenting an in plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and a giant magnetostriction, deposited as a film, or as a lattice of cylinders, on a substrate of LiNbO3. It is shown that in the latter case, corresponding to a local resonance magneto-elastic phononic crystal, it is possible to control, without any contact, the band structure by applying an external magnetic field. Thus, a sensitivity of 50kHz by Oersted was calculated for a flat band located in Bragg band gap for such phononic crystal. This sensitivity is sufficient to enable the use of this device as a sensitive detector of localized magnetic fields

Neste trabalho, é apresentada uma formulação apropriada à análise de guias de ondas eletromagnéticos, cobrindo do espectro de microondas até o da óptica. Nas regiões a partir do ultravioleta, os comprimentos de onda são equivalentes às dimensões atômicas e a formulação necessita de uma abordagem quântica, que não é considerada neste estudo. A formulação é fundamentada nos métodos vetorial magnético e dos elementos finitos (MEF), em meios não homogêneos, anisotrópicos e não dissipativos, embora a dissipação possa ser facilmente introduzida na análise. Deu-se preferência à formulação com o campo magnético em vez do elétrico, pelo fato do campo magnético ignorar descontinuidades elétricas. Ele é contínuo em regiões de permeabilidade homogênea, propriedade dos meios dielétricos em geral ( = 0), independente da permissividade dos respectivos meios, conquanto os campos elétricos sejam descontínuos entre regiões de permissividades diferentes. / This work presents a suitable formulation to the analysis of electromagnetic waveguide, covering the spectrum of the microwave to optics. In regions from the ultraviolet, the wavelengths are equivalent to atomic dimensions and the design needs a quantum approach, which is not considered in this study. The formulation is based on the magnetic vector and the finite element methods (FEM), in non-homogeneous, anisotropic and non-dissipative dielectric materials, while the dissipation can be easily introduced in the analysis. Preference was given to the formulation with the magnetic field, because the magnetic field ignores electrical discontinuities. It is continuous in regions of homogeneous permeability, property of all dielectric materials (=0), independent of the permissiveness of respective regions, while electric fields are discontinuous between regions of different permittivities.

Long-distance dispersal of Rumex alpinus was studied in the Giant Mountain in the National Park. The invasion of R. alpinus is there kind of problem. The work builds on a thesis from year 2007 (20007 Červenková), in which was made the model of the invasion of R. alpinus in the area of the Giant Mountain. The measurements of the seeds spread take place at four localities, three of them were for measuring of water dispersal and one was for measuring of winter dispersal. Anemochory was measured using traps in the meadow up to a distance of 50 m. The seeds were dispersed by wind to a distance of 20 meters. Hydrochory was measured using a network's traps in the streams up to 100 m. The largest measured water dispersal was 100 m. Hydrochory therefore proved to be an important factor, which influenced the invasion of R. alpinus. The storms and flood had the great influence on the hydrochory and anemochory. The prediction exponential curves were compiled from the data about the wind dispersal. The curves express the spread to more than a measured distance. The field dispersion curves were compared with theoretical curves, which were used in the model of the invasion from 2007. It turned out that the theoretical curves overestimate the spread of R. alpinus by wind. The dispersion of seeds was underestimated in the...

[pt] Ondas ultrassônicas guiadas são usadas em larga escala em ensaios não destrutivos (END) e Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), permitindo a inspeção de estruturas e equipamentos de forma não invasiva. A partir da transmissão de um sinal acústico sobre uma estrutura e a captação dos sinais de onda propagados por meio de sensores posicionados estrategicamente, é possível obter informações materiais do objeto inspecionado. Na área de óleo e gás, o uso desse tipo de ondas acústicas é de grande importância no levantamento do perfil da camada de cimento que reveste poços, que tem função de conferir integridade estrutural e isolar a estrutura interna de produção do poço das regiões freáticas do entorno. No processo de desativação e abandono do poço, é fundamental avaliar a qualidade do isolamento hidráulico do cimento, assim como identificar possíveis defeitos. A propagação de ondas guiadas em uma estrutura se dá, em geral, por meio de múltiplos modos e apresenta característica dispersiva, que se traduz numa dependência da velocidade de fase das ondas com a frequência, e uma relação não linear entre número de onda e frequência. A relação de dispersão carrega informações do meio de propagação, tal como constantes elásticas e dimensões, e pode ser visualizada a partir de curvas no plano frequência-número de onda (f-k). Diferentes técnicas vêm sendo exploradas para a obtenção das relações de dispersão a partir de sinais no domínio do tempo captados por sensores ultrassônicos em posições espaciais distintas. Este trabalho explora três métodos distintos para a extração das curvas de dispersão, ou seja, obter os pontos f-k associados aos modos de propagação, a partir de um conjunto de sinais dependentes do espaço-tempo. O primeiro algoritmo se baseia em uma técnica pré-existente que usa uma Transformada de Fourier bidimensional (2-D FT) sobre a matriz de dados de sinais de sensores ultrassônicos no espaço-tempo, gerando uma matriz de amplitudes no plano f-k onde os máximos locais representam pontos pertencentes a curvas de dispersão. A representação da matriz como uma imagem f-k permite a visualização das curvas de dispersão como conjuntos contíguos de pixels de maior claridade. Propõe-se um novo algoritmo baseado em operações morfológicas de processamento de imagem para a identificação de pixels relativos aos pontos das curvas de dispersão na imagem f-k, após um préprocessamento da mesma. A segunda técnica consiste no pré-processamento dessa mesma imagem f-k, obtida pela 2-D FT, e uso de um algoritmo préexistente de detecção de estruturas curvilíneas em imagens para identificar os pontos correspondentes às curvas f-k. O terceiro método é uma adaptação, proposta aqui, de um algoritmo pré-existente para estimar os números de onda das curvas de dispersão relativos a cada frequência através de uma matriz Pencil. Propõe-se também um algoritmo original para a separação dos pontos f-k encontrados pelas três técnicas de extração em curvas distintas. Os algoritmos utilizados para a obtenção das curvas de dispersão têm seu desempenho avaliado em três conjuntos de dados distintos de simulações por elementos finitos, a saber, uma de placa de alumínio fina sob distintos valores de tração axial aplicada paralelamente à direção de propagação das ondas; um poço multicamada sem tubing possuindo diferentes tipos de defeito de cimentação-channeling, qualidade de cimento baixa, descolamento interno e externo -, assim como sem defeito; e um pouco multicamada com tubing sob os mesmos defeitos de cimentação e também sem defeito. Compara-se a capacidade dos algoritmos de extração das curvas de dispersão de oferecer informações sobre mudanças materiais entre os casos simulados. Avalia-se também a precisão e custo computacional dos mesmos. / [en] Ultrasonic guided waves are widely used in the fields of Non-Destructive Evaluation (END) and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), allowing the inspection of structures and pieces of equipment in a non-invasive manner. Through the transmission of an acoustic signal over a given object and the acquisition of the signal from the propagated waves using a group of sensors in predefined positions, it is possible to obtain material information regarding the investigated structure. In the Oil & Gas industry, the use of this type of wave is integral to the logging of the cement layer that outlines the walls of wellbores, which has the purpose of guaranteeing structural support and protecting the well’s internal production structure and the surrounding groundwater from each other. During the deactivation and abandonment of a production well, it is necessary to evaluate the hydraulic isolation of the cement layer, as well as identify possible defects. The propagation of guided waves in a structure is usually multi-modal and of dispersive characteristic. The latter means that the propagating waves phase velocity is dependent on the frequency, translating into a non-linear relationship between wavenumber and frequency. This dispersion relation contains information about the propagating medium, such as elastic constants and dimensions, and can be represented as curves in the frequency-wavenumber (f-k) plane. Different methods are currently being explored for obtaining the dispersion relation from time-domain signals acquired by ultrasonic sensors in different spatial positions. This work explored three different methods for the extraction of the dispersion curves, that is, obtaining the f-k points associated with the modes of propagation, from a dataset composed of space-time signals. The first algorithm is based on a pre-existing technique that uses the bidimensional Fourier Transform (2-D FT) over the matrix containing the space-time signals from the ultrasonic sensors, generating an f-k matrix whose local maximas correspond to points belonging to dispersions curves. The representation of the matrix as an f-k image shows the dispersion curves as contiguous groups of pixels with elevated brightness. A new algorithm is proposed, based on morphological operations from image-processing, to identify the pixels relative to the f-k points of the dispersion curves in the image, after pre-processing is performed. The second technique consists of pre-processing the same fk image, obtained from the 2-D FT, and the use of an existing algorithm for the detection of curvilinear structures in images to identify the points corresponding to the f-k curves. The third method proposes the adaptation of an existing method of estimation of the wavenumbers associated with the dispersion curves for different frequencies, using a matrix Pencil. This work also proposes an original algorithm to separate the f-k points, retrieved by the three techniques, in different curves associated with each mode of propagation. The algorithms used here for the estimation of the dispersion curves are evaluated over three distinct datasets of finite elements simulation: a thin aluminum plate under different values of axial traction parallel to the direction of propagation of the waves; a multilayer wellbore without tubing, with different types of cement defects-channeling, low cement quality, internal and external decoupling-, and without defect; a multilayer wellbore with tubing with the same cement defects and with no defect. Finally, a comparison is drawn over the capacity of the extraction algorithms of providing information regarding changes in the material qualities of the simulated objects. The work also evaluates the precision and computational performance of the aforementioned algorithms.

Ο στόχος της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι διττός: η ανάπτυξη και η εφαρμογή αριθμητικών τεχνικών για την επίλυση προβλημάτων που εμπίπτουν στην περιοχή του Μη-Καταστροφικού Ελέγχου. Συγκεκριμένα αναπτύχθηκαν η Μέθοδος των Συνοριακών Στοιχείων (ΜΣΣ) και η Μέθοδος των Τοπικών Ολοκληρωτικών Εξισώσεων χωρίς Διακριτοποίηση για την αριθμητική ανάλυση στατικών και μεταβατικών προβλημάτων στο πεδίο της ελαστικότητας και της αλληλεπίδρασης ελαστικού με ακουστικό μέσο στις δύο διαστάσεις. Σημαντικό μέρος της διδακτορικής διατριβής αποτέλεσε η ανάπτυξη προγράμματος ηλεκτρονικού υπολογιστή, το οποίο επιλύει τα προβλήματα στα οποία πραγματεύεται το παρόν σύγγραμμα. Η διδακτορική διατριβή αποτελείται από τρεις ενότητες. Στην πρώτη ενότητα γίνεται πλήρης περιγραφή της απαραίτητης θεωρίας για την κάλυψη και κατανόηση των αριθμητικών ΜΣΣ αλλά και των Τοπικών Μεθόδων χωρίς Διακριτοποίηση (ΤΜχΔ). Στη δεύτερη ενότητα εφαρμόζονται οι προαναφερθείσες αριθμητικές μέθοδοι για την επίλυση στατικών και δυναμικών (στο πεδίο συχνοτήτων) διδιάστατων προβλημάτων, ώστε να πιστοποιηθεί η ακρίβεια και η αξιοπιστία των εν λόγω μεθοδολογιών. Τέλος, στην τρίτη ενότητα οι αριθμητικές ΜΣΣ και ΤΜχΔ εφαρμόζονται για την επίλυση προβλημάτων κυματικής διάδοσης που εμπίπτουν στο πεδίο του Μη-Καταστροφικού Ελέγχου. Πιο συγκεκριμένα μελετήθηκε η κυματική διάδοση σε ελεύθερες επίπεδες πλάκες και σε κυλινδρικές δεξαμενές αποθήκευσης υγρών καυσίμων. / The aim of this doctoral thesis is twofold: the development and implementation of numerical techniques for solving wave propagation problems in Non-Destructive Testing applications. Particularly, the Boundary Element Method (BEM) and the Local Boyndary Integral Equation Method are developed, so as to numerically solve static and transient problems on the field of elasticity and fluid-structure interaction in two dimensions. A major part of the present research is the construction of a computer program for solving such kind of problems. This textbook consists of three sections. In the first section, a thorough description on the theory of the BEM and the Local Meshless Methods (LMM) is done. The second section is dedicated for the numerical implementation of the BEM and LMM for solving steady state and time-harmonic two dimensional elastic and acoustic problems, in order to verify the accuracy and the ability of the proposed methodologies to solve the above-mentioned problems. Finally in the third section, the wave propagation problems of traction-free plates and cylindrical fuel storage tanks is studied, from the perspective of Non-Destructive Testing. The numerical methods of BEM and LMM are implemented, as well as spectral methods are utilized, for drawing useful conclusions on the wave propagation phenomena.

The majority of structural studies on DNA have been carried out using fibre diffraction, while studies of its dynamics and thermal behaviour have been mainly performed in solution. When the DNA double helix is heated, it exhibits local separation of the two strands that grow in size with temperature and lead to their complete separation. This work has investigated various aspects of this phenomenon. The experiments reported in this thesis were carried out on films of oriented fibres of DNA prepared with the Wet Spinning Apparatus. Thus, sample preparation and characterisation are essential parts of the research. The structures of two forms of DNA, A and B, have been explored as a function of relative humidity at fixed ionic conditions. A method to eliminate traces of ever-present B-form contamination in A-form samples was established. The high orientation of the DNA molecules within the samples allowed us to investigate dynamical fluctuations and the melting transition of DNA using neutron scattering, which can provide the spatial information crucial to understand a phase transition, probing the static correlation length along the molecule as a function of temperature. The transition has been investigated for A and B-forms in order to understand its dependence on molecular configuration.Furthermore, after the first melting, denatured DNA films show typical glass behaviour. Their thermal relaxation has been explored using calorimetry.Neutron and X-ray inelastic scattering (INS and IXS) were used in the past to measure longitudinal phonons in fibre DNA, and the results shown disagreement. Recent INS measurements supported with phonon simulations have been crucial to understand the different dispersion curves reported to date. Experiments using INS and IXS have been carried out to continue with this investigation. Attempts to observe the transverse fluctuations associated to the thermal denaturing of DNA, never experimentally investigated before, have been made.

[ES] En la actualidad, una gran cantidad de infraestructuras están compuestas de forma parcial o total de materiales cementicios, siendo el hormigón uno de los materiales cementicios más antiguos y utilizados en la construcción debido a su bajo coste, durabilidad y características mecánicas y estructurales. Pese a sus características, estos materiales están expuestos a diversas condiciones adversas del entorno y sufren procesos de deterioro que afectan a su integridad y seguridad. El reconocimiento de la integridad y seguridad en las estructuras cementicias ha implicado una extensa investigación y el desarrollo de diversas pruebas para verificar su calidad y estado. Mediante la destrucción de una muestra extraída de la estructura, en el caso de los ensayos destructivos (ED), o mediante la inspección de la estructura sin necesidad de dañarla o alterar sus propiedades, en el caso de los ensayos no destructivos (END). Existen multitud de técnicas END que tratan de caracterizar estas estructuras sin dañarlas, siendo la inspección mediante ultrasonidos una de las más utilizadas en materiales cementicios. Tradicionalmente estas técnicas ultrasónicas se basan en el estudio de las ondas longitudinales (P) y transversales (S), que permiten caracterizar una estructura mediante la realización de múltiples medidas. Sin embargo, existe otro tipo de ondas, formadas por la superposición de los desplazamientos de las partículas de las ondas P y S denominadas ondas guiadas, las cuales permiten inspeccionar una estructura de forma global a partir de una única medida, además de ser capaces de propagarse a grandes distancias manteniendo una buena relación señal-a-ruido en comparación a las ondas P y S. Dentro de las ondas guiadas más utilizadas para inspeccionar materiales cementicios, se encuentran las ondas de Rayleigh y las ondas de Lamb. Las ondas de Rayleigh se propagan en estructuras de gran espesor, mientras que las ondas de Lamb se propagan en placas. Las ondas de Lamb presentan una naturaleza dispersiva y multimodal. Su naturaleza dispersiva implica que las velocidades de fase y grupo de estas ondas depende de la frecuencia, mientras que la naturaleza multimodal implica que existen cada vez más modos de propagación conforme aumenta la frecuencia de excitación. Se pueden excitar y detectar selectivamente los distintos modos de Lamb mediante la incidencia oblicua, es decir, variando la inclinación del transmisor y el receptor. Para ello, existen distintas técnicas de acoplamiento que permiten la incidencia oblicua, como el acoplamiento por cuñas sólidas, el acoplamiento por agua y el acoplamiento por aire. La presente tesis se ha centrado en el estudio de nuevas técnicas de END basadas en ondas guiadas para caracterizar diferentes tipos de daño en los materiales cementicios. Para ello, se han llevado a cabo un número considerable de medidas experimentales basadas en distintas técnicas de acoplamiento para la generación y captación de ondas guiadas. Inicialmente se han analizado materiales homogéneos como los metales, para, posteriormente, utilizar el conocimiento adquirido en dichos materiales y estudiar materiales más heterogéneos como los cementicios. Se han evaluado diferentes tipos de técnicas de acoplamiento junto con diferentes tipos de transductores. Los materiales cementicios se han inspeccionado mediante ondas guiadas ultrasónicas con dos tipos de daño: la carbonatación, estudiando el efecto con probetas de dos capas de mortero, y el envejecimiento de fibras en placas de cemento reforzado con fibra de vidrio (GRC). Se ha demostrado que las ondas guiadas son sensibles a estos daños, obteniendo resultados esperanzadores. Concretamente, las ondas de Rayleigh se han utilizado en el daño por carbonatación debido a su sensibilidad a capas superficiales de degradación, mientras que en el envejecimiento de fibras se han utilizado las ondas de Lamb, por su sensibilidad a defectos a lo largo / [CA] En l'actualitat, una gran quantitat d'infraestructures estan formades totalment o parcialment de materials cementants. El formigó és un dels materials cementants més antics i utilitzats en la construcció degut al seu preu, la seua durabilitat i les seues característiques mecàniques i estructurals. Malgrat la seua durabilitat i característiques, aquests materials estan exposats a diverses condicions adverses de l'entorn i pateixen processos de deterioració que afecten la seua integritat i seguretat. El reconeixement de la integritat i seguretat en les estructures cementants ha implicat una extensa investigació i el desenvolupament de diverses proves per a verificar la seua qualitat i estat. Mitjançant la destrucció d'una mostra de l'estructura en el cas dels assajos destructius, o mitjançant la inspecció de l'estructura sense danyar-la o alterar les seues propietats en el cas dels assajos no destructius. Existeixen multitud de tècniques d'inspecció no destructiva que tracten de caracteritzar aquestes estructures sense danyar-les. La inspecció mitjançant ultrasons és un dels assajos no destructius més utilitzats en materials cementants. Tradicionalment, aquestes tècniques ultrasòniques estan basades en l'estudi de les ones longitudinals (P) i transversals (S), que permeten caracteritzar una estructura mitjançant la realització de múltiples mesures en l'estructura. No obstant, existeixen altres tipus d'ones, formades per la superposició dels desplaçaments de les partícules de les ones P i S, denominades ones guiades, les quals permeten inspeccionar una estructura de manera global a partir d'una única mesura, a més de poder propagar-se a grans distàncies mantenint una bona relació senyal-soroll en comparació a les ones P i S. Dins de les ones guiades més utilitzades per a inspeccionar materials cementants, es troben les ones de Rayleigh i les ones de Lamb. Les ones de Rayleigh es propaguen en estructures de gran grossària, mentre que les ones de Lamb es propaguen en plaques. Les ones de Lamb presenten una naturalesa dispersiva i multimodal. La seua naturalesa dispersiva implica que les velocitats de fase i grup d'aquestes ones depenen de la freqüència, mentre que la naturalesa multimodal implica que apareguen més modes de propagació a l'augmentar la freqüència d'excitació. Es poden excitar i detectar selectivament els diferents modes de Lamb mitjançant la incidència obliqua, és a dir, variant la inclinació del transmissor i el receptor. Existeixen diferents tècniques d'acoblament que permeten la incidència obliqua, com l'acoblament per metacrilat, l'acoblament per aigua i l'acoblament per aire. Aquesta tesi s'ha enfocat en l'estudi de noves tècniques d'assajos no destructius basades en ones guiades (ones de Rayleigh i ones de Lamb) per a caracteritzar diferents tipus de dany en els materials cementants. S'han realitzat un nombre considerable de mesures experimentals basades en diferents tècniques d'acoblament per a la generació i captació d'ones guiades. Inicialment s'han analitzat materials homogenis com els metalls per a, posteriorment, utilitzar el coneixement adquirit en aquests materials i estudiar d'altres més heterogenis com els cementants. Concretament, s'han avaluat diferents tipus de tècniques d'acoblament i diferents tipus de transductors. Els materials cementants s'han inspeccionat mitjançant ones guiades ultrasòniques amb dos tipus de dany o degradació: la carbonatació, estudiant el seu efecte amb provetes de dues capes de morter, i l'envelliment de fibres en plaques de ciment reforçat amb fibra de vidre (GRC). S'ha demostrat que les ones guiades són sensibles a aquests danys, obtenint resultats esperançadors. Concretament, les ones de Rayleigh s'han utilitzat en el dany per carbonatació a causa de la seua sensibilitat a capes superficials de degradació, mentre que en l'envelliment de fibres s'han utilitzat les ones de Lamb, per la seua sensibilitat a defe / [EN] Nowadays, a large number of infrastructures are partially or wholly built with cementitious materials. Concrete is one of the oldest and most popular cementitious materials due to its low cost, durability and remarkable mechanical and structural characteristics. However, if these materials are exposed to different environments and harsh conditions, they suffer damaging processes that affect their integrity and safety. To verify their state and quality, extensive research has been conducted and several tests have been developed, such as destructive testing and non-destructive testing. Destructive testing (DT) requires a sample of the inspected structure while non-destructive testing (NDT) allows the inspection of the structure without altering its properties and without damaging it. There are several NDT techniques that characterize cementitious structures without harming them, such as ultrasonic testing, which is one of the most widely used. This technique is based on the study of longitudinal (P) and shear (S) waves, which enable the characterization of a structure by a point-by-point scan. However, there are another kind of waves, called guided waves, which are composed of the superposition of the P and S wave particle displacements. Unlike P and S waves, guided waves allow a global inspection of a structure from a single transducer position and they are able to propagate over long distances with a good signal-to-noise ratio. Rayleigh and Lamb waves are the most frequently used guided waves in NDT of cementitious materials. Rayleigh waves propagate in thick structures while Lamb waves propagate in plate-like structures. Lamb waves are dispersive (their phase and group velocities depend on frequency) and multimodal (as frequency increases, many propagation modes with different velocities exist in the received signal). Lamb wave modes can be selectively excited and detected by means of oblique incidence, i.e., by varying the inclination of the transmitting and receiving transducers. Different coupling techniques can be used to change the inclination of the transducers, such as the contact technique with angle beam wedge transducers, water coupling and air coupling. This thesis has been focused in the study of new NDT techniques based on guided waves (Rayleigh and Lamb waves) to characterize different types of damage of cementitious materials. For this goal, a significant number of experimental arrangements based on different coupling techniques have been carried out. Firstly, homogeneous materials as metals have been analized, because they are a reference in guided wave testing. After performing different experiments in metals, the acquired knowledge has been used to inspect heterogeneous materials as cementitious ones. Different coupling techniques (variable angle wedges, immersion testing, fixed angle wedges, ...) with different types of transducers (contact transducers, immersion transducers and air-coupled transducers) have been employed. Cementitious materials with two damaging processes have been inspected by means of guided waves: two-layered mortar specimens to study carbonation and glass-fibre reinforced cement (GRC) plates to study fiber ageing. This thesis demonstrates that guided waves are sensitive to these damaging processes and the obtained results are encouraging. Specifically, Rayleigh waves have been used to detect carbonation due to its sensitivity to surface layers, while Lamb waves have been used to detect fiber ageing due to its sensitivity to defects along the thickness of the GRC plates. / La investigación realizadaen esta tesis se ha financiado con las siguientes ayudas y proyectos concedidos por el gobierno español: Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores 2015 (BES-2015-071958); Nuevas aplicaciones de ensayos no destructivos basados en ondas mecánicas para la evaluación de la degradación en materiales cementantes (BIA2014-55311-C2-2-P); Desarrollo y aplicación de ensayos no destructivos basados en ondas mecánicas para la evaluación y monitorización de reología y autosanación en materiales cementantes (BIA2017-87573-C2) / Vázquez Martínez, S. (2021). Nuevas técnicas de ensayos no destructivos basadas en ondas mecánicas para la valoración del daño en materiales cementicios [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/165531 / TESIS