Laser-induced circumferential waves on hollow cylinder and their interaction with defects by finite element method

A three dimensional (3-D) finite element model for simulating laser induced circumferential wave on a hollow cylinder is developed based on the thermoelastical mechanism, which can take any laser source into account and simulate the interactions between circumferential wave and defects in the hollow cylinder. The model is verified by a control calculation. The results show that the waveforms of circumferential wave are in very good agreement with those available in literature, not only on the arrival time and shape but also on the amplitudes of A ₀, S ₀ and A₁ modes. Using the model, circumferential waves on the surfaces of two series hollow cylinders are simulated, one with same thickness but different outer radius, and the other with the same outer radius but different thickness. The results show that a new mode appears in circumferential wave, compared with Lamb wave in plate. With increase of thickness or radius, the amplitude of the new mode reduces. Another conclusion is that with increase of the thickness of the hollow cylinder, the circumferential wave evolves gradually to the cylindrical Rayleigh waveform, which results from the attenuation of the coupling effect between the outer and inner surface. Moreover, the circumferential waves generated on a hollow cylinder with a surface defect are also simulated, and the results indicate that in the circumferential waves obtained at the point beyond the defect, the amplitude of A ₀ mode decreases and its dispersion enhances. More importantly, a new bipolar waveform corresponding to the interaction of S ₀ mode with the defect appears, its amplitude is larger than three times of that of S ₀ mode. As a result, we consider that the new bipolar waveform will be the optimal feature to nondestructively detect the surface defect on the hollow cylinder.