Showing papers by "Ajit Mal published in 2001"

Characteristics of elastic waves generated by crack initiation in aluminum alloys under fatigue loading

Abstract: The characteristics of elastic waves emanating from crack initiation in 2024 and 5052 aluminum alloys subject to static and fatigue loading were investigated through laboratory experiments. The objective of the study was to determine the differences in the properties of the signals generated from static and fatigue tests and also to examine if the sources of the waves could be identified from the temporal and spectral characteristics of the acoustic emission waveforms. The signals were recorded using nonresonant, flat, broadband transducers attached to the surface of the alloy specimens. The time dependence and power spectra of the signals recorded during the tests were examined and classified according to their special features. Three distinct types of signals were observed. The waveforms and their power spectra were found to be dependent on the material and the type of fracture associated with the signals. Analysis of the waveforms indicated that some signals could be attributed to plastic deformation associated with static tests. The potential application of the approach in health monitoring of aging aircraft structures using a network of surface mounted broadband sensors is discussed.

NDE of Composites Using Leaky Lamb Waves (LLW)

Abstract: The leaky Lamb wave (LLW) technique is approaching a maturity level that is making it an attractive quantitative NDE tool for composites and bonded joints. Since it was first observed in 1982, the phenomenon has been studied extensively, particularly in composite materials. The wave is induced by oblique insonification using a pitch-catch arrangement and the resulting modes are acquired by identifying minima in the rellected spectra. These modes are documented in the form of dispersion curves, which are evaluated in relation to analytical data. The wave behavior in multi-orientation laminates has been well documented and corroborated experimentally with high accuracy. The sensitivity of the wave to the elastic constants of the material and to the boundary conditions led to the capability to measure the elastic properties of bonded joints. Recently, the authors significantly enhanced the experimental capability that is associated with the LLW technique by increasing the speed of the data acquisiti...

Nondestructive characterization of the properties of thin diaphragms

Abstract: The stress-strain curve and residual stresses in thin diaphragms used in microelectronic applications are determined by means of a nondestructive approach. The method is based on the measurement of the deflection of the diaphragm near its center when it is subjected to an externally applied normal pressure and inversion of the deflection data to determine the quantities of interest. The measurements are carried out by means of a Twyman-Green laser interferometer. The relationship between the applied pressure and the deformation profile of the diaphragm is derived based on membrane mechanics. It is shown that if the diaphragm deflection in the neighborhood of its center can be measured accurately, then the strain and stress in this region can be determined through data inversion based on this relationship. It follows that, given the deformation profiles of a diaphragm for a range of pressurer, the biaxial modulus and the residual stress in the diaphragm can be extracted. By utilizing this local bulge testing method, many complex diaphragm shapes can be analyzed, without resorting to complicated numerical modeling. The method is applied to a nitride membrane with initial tensile stress and also to a silicon composite membrane with initial compressive stress, with reasonable results.