Is it possible that sound waves can weaken structures or even eventually cause them to fail? Well it depends on the power and the harmonic but yes this is possible? But if this is so why do we use sound waves to see inside structures to test if they are strong or not? Aren’t we causing their premature failure? We use ultrasound to look at the insides of dams to see if they are still safe after many years right?
Interesting you bring this up, as when I read about this theory I thought, well that does not sound right to me really. Especially considering that inside larger structures like let’s say Hoover Dam there is concrete which does not dry or harden for 50 years or more and there might be space cavities in side. Some of the concrete inside of Hoover Dam is thought to be still not completely dried; hard to believe indeed.