New matching pursuit-based algorithm for SNR improvement in ultrasonic NDT

In this paper a fast and efficient matching pursuit-based algorithm is proposed for SNR improvement in ultrasonic NDT of highly scattering materials. The proposed algorithm utilizes time-shifted Morlet functions as dictionary elements because they are well matched with the ultrasonic pulse echoes obtained from the transducer used in the experiments. The proposed algorithm is fast enough to be used in the signal processing stage of real time inspection systems. Computer simulation has been performed to verify the SNR improvement for diverse ultrasonic waves embodied in high-level synthetic grain noise. This improvement is also experimentally verified using ultrasonic traces acquired from a carbon fibre reinforced plastic material. Numerical results show meaningful SNR improvements for low input SNR ratios (below 0 dB).