Showing papers on "Lamb waves published in 2004"

Ultrasonic Waves in Solid Media

Abstract: Preface 1. Introduction 2. Dispersion principles 3. Unbounded isotropic and anisotropic media 4. Reflection and refraction 5. Oblique incidence 6. Wave scattering 7. Surface and subsurface waves 8. Waves in plates 9. Interface waves 10. Layer on a half space 11. Waves in rods 12. Waves in hollow cylinders 13. Guided waves in multiple layers 14. Source influence 15. Horizontal shear 16. Waves in an anisotropic layer 17. Elastic constant determination 18. Waves in viscoelastic media 19. Stress influence 20. Boundary element methods Bibliography Appendices A. Ultrasonic nondestructive testing principles, analysis and display technology B. Basic formulas and concepts in the theory of elasticity C. Basic formulas in complex variables D. Schlieren imaging and dynamic photoelasticity E. Key wave propagation experiments Index.

Structural health monitoring using scanning laser vibrometry: I. Lamb wave sensing

Abstract: Structural health monitoring using Lamb waves is based on guided waves introduced to a structure at one point and sensed at a different location. Actuation and sensing can be accomplished using various types of transducer. The paper demonstrates a non-contact method for low-frequency Lamb wave sensing. The technique utilizes a laser Doppler velocimeter. Lamb wave responses are enhanced using data smoothing and filtering procedures. The results are validated using classical piezoceramic-based sensing and numerical simulations. The study shows the potential of laser vibrometry for Lamb wave sensing.

Embedded-ultrasonics Structural Radar for In Situ Structural Health Monitoring of Thin-wall Structures:

Abstract: Embedded-ultrasonics structural radar (EUSR) is a new concept and methodology for in situ nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) of thin-wall structures. EUSR consists of: (a) an array of piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) embedded into the structure; and (b) electronic modules for signal transmission/reception, processing, and interpretation. EUSR utilizes guided elastic waves (Lamb waves) generated omnidirectionally into the thin-wall structure by surface-mounted permanently attached PWAS. The paper starts with the general concepts of the EUSR algorithm: transmission beamforming, reception beamforming, and time-of-fight (TOF) determination. Next, details of the Lamb wave generation with PWAS, verification of group-velocity dispersion curves, identification of optimal excitation frequency, and confirmation of wave front omnidirectionality are discussed. In the third part of the paper, the actual implementation of the EUSR method in a proof-of-concept demonstration i...

Detection of cracks in plates using piezo-actuated Lamb waves

Abstract: In this paper, a comprehensive methodology for locating and determining the extent of linear cracks in homogeneous plates based on the time-of-flight analysis of Lamb wave propagation is proposed. Piezoelectric sensors and actuators (PZTs) placed on a square grid configuration are used to excite and receive direct and reflected waves. The actuation frequency, spacing of PZTs and length of the signal to analyze are first determined. The grid is used to sweep across the plate to identify the location of a crack, if there is one. Elliptical loci of possible crack positions are constructed based on the flight time of crack-reflected waves estimated using energy spectra from the Hilbert–Huang transform of the sensor signals. A detailed procedure for obtaining the ellipses is described, including the blind zones. After identifying the crack position, the crack orientation is determined by varying the positions of the PZTs and observing the strength of the energy peaks in the Hilbert spectra. This provides the basis for moving the PZTs to estimate the extent of the crack. Experimental results obtained using aluminum plates with through, half-through and concealed cracks showed that the proposed method is feasible and accurate.

Structural health monitoring using scanning laser vibrometry: II. Lamb waves for damage detection

Abstract: Guided ultrasonic waves have shown great potential for structural health monitoring. Various types of transducer can be used for actuating and sensing of these waves. This includes non-contact approaches such as optical/laser techniques. Classical laser methods usually involve high energy interferometers. The paper demonstrates that a commercial laser vibrometer, designed for vibration/modal analysis, can be used for crack detection in metallic structures. The study involves a simple fatigue test in order to initiate and grow a crack. Lamb waves generated by one bonded piezoceramic transducer were sensed using a multi-point scanning laser vibrometer. The results demonstrate the potential of laser vibrometry for simple, rapid and robust detection of fatigue cracks in metallic structures.

Detection of Low-velocity Impact Damage in Composite Plates using Lamb Waves:

Abstract: A first approach to a rapid and cost-effective health monitoring system for composite structures is presented. Relatively small piezoceramic patches have been selected for the generation and reception of the fundamental anti-symmetric Lamb mode, A0. The patches were distributed in a linear array in order for larger areas to be inspected. The propagation of Lamb waves was studied using Finite Element analysis and the optimal number and spacing of the transmitters was determined. Impact damage was successfully detected in multidirectional carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates using a very simple experimental set-up.

Propagation of ultrasonic guided waves in lap-shear adhesive joints: case of incident a0 Lamb wave.

Abstract: This paper deals with the propagation of ultrasonic guided waves in adhesively bonded lap-shear joints. The topic is relevant to bond inspection by ultrasonic testing. Specifically, the propagation of the lowest-order, antisymmetric a0 mode through the joint is examined. An important aspect is the mode conversion at the boundaries between the single-plate adherents and the multilayer overlap. The a0 strength of transmission is studied for three different bond states in aluminum joints, namely a fully cured adhesive bond, a poorly cured adhesive bond, and a slip bond. Theoretical predictions indicate that the dispersive behavior of the guided waves in the multilayer overlap is highly dependent on bond state. Experimental tests are conducted in lap-shear joints by a hybrid, broadband laser/air-coupled ultrasonic setup in a through-transmission configuration. The Gabor wavelet transform is employed to extract energy transmission coefficients in the 100 kHz 1.4 MHz range for the three different bond states examined. The cross-sectional mode shapes of the guided waves are shown to have a substantial role in the energy transfer through the joint.

Selective generation of Lamb wave modes and their propagation characteristics in defective composite laminates

Abstract: Techniques for the generation of Lamb waves with purpose of non-destructive inspection (NDI) were briefly reviewed. An active excitation control circuit was designed and instrumented with an online damage diagnosis system, by which the desired fundamental symmetric Lamb mode, shear mode and antisymmetric mode can be selectively stimulated. A signal processing and identification algorithm in the time-scale domain, using spectrographic analyses based on the wavelet transform technique, was developed to assist the wave signal interpretation. The proposed excitation methodology was applied to the study of the dispersion and propagation characteristics of Lamb waves in quasi-isotropic CF/EP composite laminates with delamination. For validation, numerical simulations were conducted in parallel with experimental investigations.

Guided wave propagation in three-layer pavement structures

Abstract: A study on guided waves in a layered half-space with large velocity contrasts and a decreasing velocity with depth is presented. Multiple mode dispersion curves are calculated in the complex wave number domain, taking into consideration the attenuation caused by leakage into the underlying half-space. The excitability of the modes by a vertical point force on the surface is also calculated. Results show that the measurable wave field at the surface of a pavement structure is dominated by leaky quasi-Lamb waves in the top and second layers. The fundamental antisymmetric mode of vibration is the dominating mode generated in the stiff top layer. This mode drives the complete system and continuity across the boundaries generates higher order modes in the embedded second layer. The interaction of leaky Lamb waves in the first two layers results in large variations in the excitability and the attenuation, so that only the waves corresponding to certain portions of the dispersion curves are measurable remote from the source at the pavement surface. It is concluded that these portions of dispersion curves can be individually resolved in practice, by using multichannel processing techniques. This holds the potential for a refined nondestructive testing technique for pavements.

Structural health monitoring of composite structures using Lamb wave tomography

Abstract: Lamb wave tomography offers a new dimension to the challenging field of in situ health monitoring of structures. The possibility of constructing tomograms from a network of sensors generating and sensing Lamb waves in thin, multi-layered, anisotropic composite plates is explored in the present study. It is shown that improved tomograms result when the anisotropic and attenuative characteristics of composite plates are accounted for by (a) using the newly identified energy of the earliest Lamb wave signals as the reconstruction parameter, (b) modifying the sensor configuration from conventional geometries (and thereby also optimizing the number of sensors), and (c) normalizing the Lamb wave energy data of the defective sample with respect to that of the defect-free sample.

Numerical simulation of laser-generated ultrasound by the finite element method

Abstract: The results obtained from the finite element model of laser-generated ultrasound are presented in terms of temperature and displacement. According to thermoelastic theory, considering the temperature dependence of the thermophysical parameters of the material, the transient temperature field can be precisely calculated by using the finite element method; then, laser-generated surface acoustic wave forms are calculated in Al plates of various thicknesses. The elastic waves excited by a pulsed laser in a thin plate are typical Lamb waves, and the numerical results demonstrate that the surface vibration is mainly determined by the lower frequency components of the symmetric mode s0 and antisymmetric mode a0 of the lowest order in very thin plate materials. It is also indicated that, when the sample thickness increases, both the higher frequency components of the lower Lamb wave modes and the higher order Lamb wave modes should be considered. In a relatively thicker plate, the numerical model can still captur...

Directional piezoelectric phased array filters for detecting damage in isotropic plates

Abstract: Phased array filters using piezoelectric sensors are presented as an approach to detect damage in isotropic plates. Plate dynamics can be described in terms of wave propagation. Boundaries and other discontinuities, such as damage, produce reflections from incident wavefronts. Phased arrays, acting as a directional filter, can be used along with a wave propagation approach to look in different directions on a plate. Damage to the plate can be inferred if there is a significant change in the transient response of the plate. The location of this damaged area can be determined using the phased sensor array response. This paper presents results from simulated damage on an isotropic plate. A piezoelectric sensor array is used to actively interrogate the plate to determine the presence and location of damage using low frequency Lamb waves.

Delamination detection in smart composite beams using Lamb waves

Abstract: This paper presents a feasibility study on using Lamb waves to detect and locate through-width delamination in fiber-reinforced plastic beams. An active diagnostic system is proposed for clamped-free specimens. It consists of a piezoelectric patch and an accelerometer both mounted near the support. Such a system can locate damage in an absolute sense, that is, a priori knowledge on the response from pristine specimens is not required. The fundamental anti-symmetric Lamb wave mode is chosen as the diagnostic wave. It is generated by applying a voltage in the form of sinusoidal bursts to the piezoelectric patch. The proposed system was applied to locate delaminations in some fabricated Kevlar/epoxy beam specimens. With an appropriate actuating frequency, distortions of waveforms due to boundary reflections can be reduced. Based on their arrival times and the known propagating speed of Lamb waves, the delaminations can be located. The errors associated with the predicted damage positions range from 4.5% to 8.5%.

Guided circumferential shear horizontal waves in an isotropic hollow cylinder

Abstract: Guided time-harmonic shear horizontal (SH) waves propagating in the circumferential direction of an isotropic hollow cylinder are studied. The dispersion equation as well as the displacement and stress field across the wall thickness is derived analytically. Compared with the SH waves in a plate, a quantitative guideline of how well a plate model can approximate a pipe in the circumferential direction is given for defect characterization purpose. The work is also crucial for initiating work efforts on three-dimensional wave scattering for pipeline inspection.

Lamb wave propagation in elastic plates coated with viscoelastic materials

Abstract: This paper addresses the effects of attenuative coatings on the dispersion characteristics of Lamb wave propagation in elastic plates. The topology of phase velocity and guided wave attenuation spectra is analyzed as a function of the coating internal damping (longitudinal and shear bulk attenuations) and it is proved that in contrast to elastic plates, all modes are propagating albeit with large attenuation in some cases. An energy-based correspondence between the dispersion of the attenuative bilayer and that of a related elastic bilayer is derived in order to investigate separately the effects of the longitudinal and shear bulk attenuations on the attenuation of the guided modes. It is shown that at low frequency the guided wave attenuation is only slightly affected by the longitudinal bulk attenuation, while the contribution of the shear bulk attenuation is substantial. The attenuation characteristics of shear horizontal modes are compared with those of Lamb modes in order to identify the mode and the frequencies which result in minimum guided wave attenuation.

Automatic multi-mode Lamb wave arrival time extraction for improved tomographic reconstruction

Abstract: An ultrasonic signal processing technique is applied to multi-mode arrival time estimation from Lamb waveforms. The basic tool is a simplified timescale projection called a dynamic wavelet fingerprint (DWFP) which enables direct observation of the variation of features of interest in non-stationary ultrasonic signals. The DWFP technique was used to automatically detect and evaluate each candidate through-transmitted Lamb mode. The area of the DWFP was then used as a feature to distinguish false modes caused by noise and other interference from the true modes of interest. The set of estimated arrival times were then used as inputs for tomographic reconstruction. The Lamb wave tomography images generated with these estimated arrival times were able to indicate different defects in aluminium plates.

Fundamental lamb mode-based delamination detection for CF/EP composite laminates using distributed piezoelectrics

Abstract: A delamination detection scheme for the CF/EP composite laminates based on the Lamb wave propagation was proposed. The fundamental symmetric Lamb mode (S0) and the delaminationinduced basic shear m...

Feasibility of bone assessment with leaky Lamb waves in bone phantoms and a bovine tibia

Abstract: In this study, the effect of cortical thickness variation on the propagation of leaky Lamb waves is investigated by using an axial transmission technique commonly used to characterize long bones. Three Lucite™ plates with thicknesses of 1, 3, and 5 mm as bone phantoms and one bovine tibia with a cortical thickness of 2 mm were used at various low frequencies. Experimental measurements in bone phantoms show that the peak frequency and amplitude of excited Lamb modes strongly depend on the thickness of the Lucite plate. In the bovine tibia, the S0 and A0 Lamb modes are consistently observed in the frequency-thickness region from 0.2 to 1.0 MHz mm, and can be effectively launched at a frequency of 200 kHz, suggesting 200 kHz to be the optimal signal frequency for in vivo clinical applications. It can be also seen that both modes are affected by the frequency-thickness product, but the effect is greater for the A0 mode. Hence, the A0 Lamb mode seems more sensitive to cortical thickness change due to aging and osteoporosis. This study suggests that the use of leaky Lamb waves is feasible for ultrasonic bone assessment.

An intelligent signal processing and pattern recognition technique for defect identification using an active sensor network

Abstract: The practical utilization of elastic waves, e.g. Rayleigh–Lamb waves, in high-performance structural health monitoring techniques is somewhat impeded due to the complicated wave dispersion phenomena, the existence of multiple wave modes, the high susceptibility to diverse interferences, the bulky sampled data and the difficulty in signal interpretation. An intelligent signal processing and pattern recognition (ISPPR) approach using the wavelet transform and artificial neural network algorithms was developed; this was actualized in a signal processing package (SPP). The ISPPR technique comprehensively functions as signal filtration, data compression, characteristic extraction, information mapping and pattern recognition, capable of extracting essential yet concise features from acquired raw wave signals and further assisting in structural health evaluation. For validation, the SPP was applied to the prediction of crack growth in an alloy structural beam and construction of a damage parameter database for defect identification in CF/EP composite structures. It was clearly apparent that the elastic wave propagation-based damage assessment could be dramatically streamlined by introduction of the ISPPR technique.

Elastic wave propagation through a random array of dislocations

Abstract: A number of unsolved issues in materials physics suggest there is a need for an improved quantitative understanding of the interaction between acoustic (more generally, elastic) waves and dislocations. In this paper we study the coherent propagation of elastic waves through a two dimensional solid filled with randomly placed dislocations, both edge and screw, in a multiple scattering formalism. Wavelengths are supposed to be large compared to a Burgers vector and dislocation density is supposed to be small, in a sense made precise in the body of the paper. Consequently, the basic mechanism for the scattering of an elastic wave by a line defect is quite simple ("fluttering"): An elastic wave will hit each individual dislocation, causing it to oscillate in response. The ensuing oscillatory motion will generate outgoing (from the dislocation position) elastic waves. When many dislocations are present, the resulting wave behavior can be quite involved because of multiple scattering. However, under some circumstances, there may exist a coherent wave propagating with an effective wave velocity, its amplitude being attenuated because of the energy scattered away from the direction of propagation. The present study concerns the determination of the coherent wavenumber of an elastic wave propagating through an elastic medium filled with randomly placed dislocations. The real part of the coherent wavenumber gives the effective wave velocity and its imaginary part gives the attenuation length (or elastic mean free path). The calculation is performed perturbatively, using a wave equation for the particle velocity with a right hand side term, valid both in two and three dimensions, that accounts for the dislocation motion when forced by an external stress. In two dimensions, the motion of a dislocation is that of a massive particle driven by the incident wave; both screw and edge dislocations are considered. The effective velocity of the coherent wave appears at first order in perturbation theory, while the attenuation length appears at second order.

Modeling the Excitation of Lamb and SH Waves by Point and Line Sources

Abstract: The guided wave field excited in a plate‐like structure from any weakly coupled transducer can be calculated from the superposition of the guided wave fields due to a number of suitable point or line excitation sources. In this paper, the fields from various point and line excitation sources are reviewed and relationships between them are demonstrated. The performance of pancake coil EMATs is modeled using the superposition of the fields from point sources and the results compared with experiment.

Lamb mode conversion in a plate with a delamination

Abstract: A theoretical study of Lamb mode propagation through a part of a plate containing a finite-length, delamination parallel with the surface is presented. In the delamination boundary region, which is taken parallel with the free plate surface, noncontact boundary conditions are assumed. The calculation is based on a modal decomposition method. As a result of diffraction on a delamination the incident Lamb mode is efficiently converted into Lamb modes with wave numbers close to the wave number of incident mode. The transmission coefficient of a Rayleigh wave incident on a delamination located near the surface has an oscillating dependence on the delamination parameters and has a pronounced minimum where there is a strong conversion into transmitted Lamb modes. Inversely, using the method of phase conjugation, a proper incident Lamb mode combination can be efficiently converted into a single transmitted Lamb or Rayleigh wave.

Guided Lamb waves and L-SAFT processing technique for enhanced detection and imaging of corrosion defects in plates with small depth-to wavelength ratio

Abstract: The Lamb synthetic aperture focusing technique (L-SAFT) imaging algorithm in the Fourier domain is used to produce Lamb wave imaging in plates while considering the wave dispersive properties. This artificial focusing technique produces easy-to-interpret, modified B-scan type images of Lamb wave inspection results. The high level of sensitivity of Lamb waves combined with the L-SAFT algorithm allows one to detect and to produce images of corrosion defects with small depth-to-wavelength ratio. This paper briefly presents the formulated L-SAFT algorithm used for Lamb waves and, in more details, some experimental results obtained on simulated and real corrosion pits, demonstrating the benefit of combining L-SAFT with pulse-echo Lamb wave inspection. The obtained images of the real corrosion defects showed detection of pits with a depth-to-wavelength ratio of approximately 2/11.

On Rayleigh waves in incompressible orthotropic elastic solids.

Abstract: In this paper the secular equation for the Rayleigh wave speed in an incompressible orthotropic elastic solid is obtained in a form that does not admit spurious solutions. It is then shown that inequalities on the material constants that ensure positive definiteness of the strain–energy function guarantee existence and uniqueness of the Rayleigh wave speed. Finally, an explicit formula for the Rayleigh wave speed is obtained.