This 12 ECTS semester project was conducted in the Multiscale Functional and Molecular Imaging Lab, where the team aimed to overcome the issue of bones blocking ultrasound waves to scan the brain. However, for solid materials like the skull, it is possible to transmit mechanical waves, called lamb waves, through it. By finding the right setup, the plate can appear transparent to the scanning system, effectively "tunnelling" the plate.
We simplified the experiment to make it possible with the available lab instruments. We simulated plates of various materials and thicknesses and then confirmed our simulations with experiments. We submerged a solid plate in a water tank, generated sound waves with a laser pointed at a microsphere, and measured the transmission using an array of transducers arranged in a spherical manner.
For that project, I needed strong knowledge of signal processing and know how to build custom graphical interfaces (in my case in JavaScript and HTML). By successfully confirming the simulation with the experiment, this project demonstrated the potential for using lamb waves to effectively "tunnel" solid plates and scan brains through the skull.