Vamshi Krishna Chillara

Bio: Vamshi Krishna Chillara is an academic researcher from Los Alamos National Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Guided wave testing & Harmonics. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 40 publications receiving 569 citations. Previous affiliations of Vamshi Krishna Chillara include Pennsylvania State University.

Review of nonlinear ultrasonic guided wave nondestructive evaluation: theory, numerics, and experiments

Abstract: Interest in using the higher harmonic generation of ultrasonic guided wave modes for nondestructive evaluation continues to grow tremendously as the understanding of nonlinear guided wave propagation has enabled further analysis. The combination of the attractive properties of guided waves with the attractive properties of higher harmonic generation provides a very unique potential for characterization of incipient damage, particularly in plate and shell structures. Guided waves can propagate relatively long distances, provide access to hidden structural components, have various displacement polarizations, and provide many opportunities for mode conversions due to their multimode character. Moreover, higher harmonic generation is sensitive to changing aspects of the microstructures such as to the dislocation density, precipitates, inclusions, and voids. We review the recent advances in the theory of nonlinear guided waves, as well as the numerical simulations and experiments that demonstrate their utility.

On selection of primary modes for generation of strong internally resonant second harmonics in plate

Abstract: The selection of primary shear-horizontal (SH) and Rayleigh–Lamb (RL) ultrasonic wave modes that generate cumulative second harmonics in homogeneous isotropic plates is analyzed by theoretical modeling. Selection criteria include: internal resonance (synchronism and nonzero power flux), group velocity matching, and excitability/receivability. The power flux, group velocity matching, and excitability are tabulated for the SH and RL internal resonance points. The analysis indicates that SH waves can generate cumulative symmetric RL secondary wave fields. Laboratory experiments on aluminum plates demonstrate that excitation of the SH3 primary mode generates the s4 secondary RL mode and that the secondary wave field amplitude increases linearly with propagation distance. Simple magnetostrictive transducers were used to excite the primary SH wave and to receive the SH and RL wave signals. Reception of these wave modes having orthogonal polarizations was achieved by simply reorienting the electrical coil. The experiment was complicated by the presence of a nonplanar primary wavefront, however finite element simulations were able to clarify the experimental results.

Interaction of guided wave modes in isotropic weakly nonlinear elastic plates: Higher harmonic generation

Abstract: A generalized approach is presented to analyze the nature of guided wave mode interactions in isotropic weakly nonlinear elastic plates. The problem formulation is carried out in terms of the displacement gradient, which facilitates systematic analysis of mode interactions in general and that of higher harmonic generation in particular. Only cumulative harmonics are analyzed; these (1) have nonzero power flow and (2) are phase matched. Results indicate that the interaction of Rayleigh-Lamb modes of the same nature (symmetric or antisymmetric) can generate only cumulative harmonics that are symmetric modes, while the interaction between modes of opposite nature can generate only cumulative harmonics that are antisymmetric modes. A methodology for assessing cumulative higher harmonic generation (e.g., the third harmonic) is also proposed.

Nonlinear guided waves in plates: a numerical perspective.

Abstract: Harmonic generation from non-cumulative fundamental symmetric ( S 0 ) and antisymmetric ( A 0 ) modes in plate is studied from a numerical standpoint. The contribution to harmonic generation from material nonlinearity is shown to be larger than that from geometric nonlinearity. Also, increasing the magnitude of the higher order elastic constants increases the amplitude of second harmonics. Second harmonic generation from non-phase-matched modes illustrates that group velocity matching is not a necessary condition for harmonic generation. Additionally, harmonic generation from primary mode is continuous and once generated, higher harmonics propagate independently. Lastly, the phenomenon of mode-interaction to generate sum and difference frequencies is demonstrated.

Third harmonic shear horizontal and Rayleigh Lamb waves in weakly nonlinear plates

Abstract: The third order harmonic generation (third harmonics as well as cubic sum and difference harmonics) due to the cubic interaction of two collimated elastic waves in a homogeneous, isotropic, weakly nonlinear plate is investigated by using a fourth order expansion of strain energy density to formulate the nonlinear boundary problems. Waves with both shear horizontal (SH) and Rayleigh Lamb (RL) nature are considered as primary or tertiary wave fields. The non-zero power flux condition is evaluated using characteristic parity matrices of the cubic nonlinear forcing terms and third order harmonic mode shapes. Results indicate that waves with either SH or RL nature receive power flux from a specific pattern of primary mode interaction. Further analytical evaluation of the synchronism condition enables identification of primary SH and RL modes that are able to generate cumulative third harmonics. The primary SH modes are shown to be holo-internal-resonant with third harmonic SH fields. This simply means that all points on the primary dispersion curves are internally resonant with third harmonics, which is not the case for second harmonics. Such flexibility will be advantageous for laboratory and field measurements.

Review of nonlinear ultrasonic guided wave nondestructive evaluation: theory, numerics, and experiments

Abstract: Interest in using the higher harmonic generation of ultrasonic guided wave modes for nondestructive evaluation continues to grow tremendously as the understanding of nonlinear guided wave propagation has enabled further analysis. The combination of the attractive properties of guided waves with the attractive properties of higher harmonic generation provides a very unique potential for characterization of incipient damage, particularly in plate and shell structures. Guided waves can propagate relatively long distances, provide access to hidden structural components, have various displacement polarizations, and provide many opportunities for mode conversions due to their multimode character. Moreover, higher harmonic generation is sensitive to changing aspects of the microstructures such as to the dislocation density, precipitates, inclusions, and voids. We review the recent advances in the theory of nonlinear guided waves, as well as the numerical simulations and experiments that demonstrate their utility.

Second harmonic generation at fatigue cracks by low-frequency Lamb waves: experimental and numerical studies

Abstract: This paper presents experimental and theoretical analyses of the second harmonic generation due to non-linear interaction of Lamb waves with a fatigue crack. Three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) simulations and experimental studies are carried out to provide physical insight into the mechanism of second harmonic generation. The results demonstrate that the 3D FE simulations can provide a reasonable prediction on the second harmonic generated due to the contact nonlinearity at the fatigue crack. The effect of the wave modes on the second harmonic generation is also investigated in detail. It is found that the magnitude of the second harmonic induced by the interaction of the fundamental symmetric mode (S 0 ) of Lamb wave with the fatigue crack is much higher than that by the fundamental anti-symmetric mode (A 0 ) of Lamb wave. In addition, a series of parametric studies using 3D FE simulations are conducted to investigate the effect of the fatigue crack length to incident wave wavelength ratio, and the influence of the excitation frequency on the second harmonic generation. The outcomes show that the magnitude and directivity pattern of the generated second harmonic depend on the fatigue crack length to incident wave wavelength ratio as well as the ratio of S 0 to A 0 incident Lamb wave amplitude. In summary, the findings of this study can further advance the use of second harmonic generation in damage detection.

On selection of primary modes for generation of strong internally resonant second harmonics in plate

Abstract: The selection of primary shear-horizontal (SH) and Rayleigh–Lamb (RL) ultrasonic wave modes that generate cumulative second harmonics in homogeneous isotropic plates is analyzed by theoretical modeling. Selection criteria include: internal resonance (synchronism and nonzero power flux), group velocity matching, and excitability/receivability. The power flux, group velocity matching, and excitability are tabulated for the SH and RL internal resonance points. The analysis indicates that SH waves can generate cumulative symmetric RL secondary wave fields. Laboratory experiments on aluminum plates demonstrate that excitation of the SH3 primary mode generates the s4 secondary RL mode and that the secondary wave field amplitude increases linearly with propagation distance. Simple magnetostrictive transducers were used to excite the primary SH wave and to receive the SH and RL wave signals. Reception of these wave modes having orthogonal polarizations was achieved by simply reorienting the electrical coil. The experiment was complicated by the presence of a nonplanar primary wavefront, however finite element simulations were able to clarify the experimental results.

Ultrasonic waves for materials evaluation in fatigue, thermal and corrosion damage: A review

Abstract: Mechanical properties of materials tend to deteriorate over time and thus become responsible for cracks and malfunctions in mechanical components or civil structures. Non-destructive ultrasonic wave analysis has proven to be a successful investigation method for inspecting mechanical properties of materials. This review has highlighted the main results of research in the field of non-linear ultrasonic wave investigations for the inspection of fatigue damage, thermal damage and chemical damage. In all three cases, non-linear ultrasonic wave survey method was effective in detecting first-stage damage.

Locating fatigue damage using temporal signal features of nonlinear Lamb waves

Abstract: The temporal signal features of linear guided waves, as typified by the time-of-flight (ToF), have been exploited intensively for identifying damage, with proven effectiveness in locating gross damage in particular. Upon re-visiting the conventional, ToF-based detection philosophy, the present study extends the use of temporal signal processing to the realm of nonlinear Lamb waves, so as to reap the high sensitivity of nonlinear Lamb waves to small-scale damage (e.g., fatigue cracks), and the efficacy of temporal signal processing in locating damage. Nonlinear wave features (i.e., higher-order harmonics) are extracted using networked, miniaturized piezoelectric wafers, and reverted to the time domain for damage localization. The proposed approach circumvents the deficiencies of using Lamb wave features for evaluating undersized damage, which are either undiscernible in time-series analysis or lacking in temporal information in spectral analysis. A probabilistic imaging algorithm is introduced to supplement the approach, facilitating the presentation of identification results in an intuitive manner. Through numerical simulation and then experimental validation, two damage indices (DIs) are comparatively constructed, based, respectively, on linear and nonlinear temporal features of Lamb waves, and used to locate fatigue damage near a rivet hole of an aluminum plate. Results corroborate the feasibility and effectiveness of using temporal signal features of nonlinear Lamb waves to locate small-scale fatigue damage, with enhanced accuracy compared with linear ToF-based detection. Taking a step further, a synthesized detection strategy is formulated by amalgamating the two DIs, targeting continuous and adaptive monitoring of damage from its onset to macroscopic formation.