Anisotropic wave propagation and its applications to NDE of composite materials

This paper utilized anisotropic wave propagation theory to measure the elastic constants of a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite specimen. For plane waves propagating in the composite specimen, the deviation of the propagational directions between the energy and phase velocities were measured. It is found that in such a sample, the deviations may be as large as 60 degrees. The measured energy velocities were transformed to the phase velocities of the plane waves by employing a numerical scheme. It is demonstrated that the elastic constants of a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite can be determined by conducting ultrasonic experiments in two principal symmetry planes.