Ultrasonic Imaging Detects Defects in All Concrete Types

New system automatically adapts to different concrete compositions to create high-resolution 3D images of internal flaws.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:07pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Researchers have developed a high-resolution 3D ultrasonic imaging system that can detect defects inside concrete structures like roads and bridges without damaging the material. The system uses a wide range of ultrasonic frequencies and an advanced laser vibrometer to capture waves that travel through the diverse materials in concrete, automatically adapting to different concrete compositions to create clear 3D images of internal flaws.

Why it matters

Identifying internal defects in concrete infrastructure is critical for planning efficient repairs, but traditional ultrasonic testing methods struggle with the complex composition of concrete. This new adaptive system provides a powerful nondestructive tool to assess the integrity of concrete structures and guide maintenance decisions.

The details

The key innovation of the new ultrasonic imaging system is its ability to automatically adjust to different concrete compositions. Concrete contains a variety of materials like stone, clay, and sand that scatter sound waves, making it difficult to obtain clear images. The researchers addressed this by using a broadband ultrasonic wave that covers a wide range of frequencies, paired with a laser vibrometer receiver that can capture the full spectrum of outgoing waves. This allows the system to adapt as the concrete filters out certain frequencies, detecting whatever waves make it through the material.

  • The research was published on January 27, 2026.

The players

Yoshikazu Ohara

The lead author of the study and a researcher at Tohoku University.

Tohoku University

A Japanese national university where some of the researchers on this project are based.

Los Alamos National Laboratory

A U.S. Department of Energy research laboratory that collaborated on this ultrasonic imaging system.

Texas A&M University

A public research university in the United States that also contributed to the development of this technology.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“In our approach, the ultrasonic wave is broadband, using a wide range of ultrasonic frequencies rather than operating around a single, fixed frequency. The receiver is capable of accepting an even broader range of frequencies. By automatically adapting the frequency to the material, our system improves the contrast between defects and background material in concrete.”

— Yoshikazu Ohara, Researcher (Applied Physics Letters)

“No manual tuning is needed. As the concrete filters out certain frequencies, the laser Doppler vibrometer simply captures whatever frequencies remain. Unlike conventional systems, we don't have to swap transducers or adjust the frequency beforehand. The system adapts automatically.”

— Yoshikazu Ohara, Researcher (Applied Physics Letters)

“For a repair planner or field technician, this provides concrete information: how deep the defect is from the surface, how large it is, and how it extends in three dimensions. This makes it possible to plan repairs more efficiently. The method gives a clear 3D map of internal damage that can be directly used for maintenance and repair decisions.”

— Yoshikazu Ohara, Researcher (Applied Physics Letters)

What’s next

The researchers plan to further develop and test the adaptive ultrasonic imaging system to improve its accuracy and reliability for real-world concrete infrastructure assessment.

The takeaway

This new ultrasonic imaging technology provides a powerful nondestructive tool to detect internal defects in concrete structures of all compositions, enabling more efficient and targeted repair planning to maintain critical infrastructure like roads and bridges.