Interaction between lithotripsy-induced surface acoustic waves and pre-existing cracks

The interaction between pre-existing cracks and surface acoustic waves (SAW) in lithotripsy is investigated. Surface acoustic waves are generated at a water-glass interface by an incident shock wave produced by the spark discharge of a nano pulse lithotripsy (NPL) device or an electromagnetic shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) source. Evidence of SAW, including leaky Rayleigh wave and Scholte wave, will be presented based on photoelastic imaging and numerical stimulations using COMSOL. A clear correlation between SAW and the location of the maximum tensile stress produced on the glass boundary has been identified, which can lead to ring-like fractures on a flat glass surface exposed to NPL-generated spherically divergent shock waves. To simulate cavitation-induced surface pitting in SWL, pre-existing crack will be introduced on the glass surface by microindentation using a Vickers or Knoop indenter. The interaction of SAW with the pre-existing cracks will be examined to characterize crack extension and branching as a function of their location and orientation to the incident shock wave.