Multiple-mode Lamb wave scattering simulations using 3D elastodynamic finite integration technique

We have implemented three-dimensional (3D) elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT) simulations to model Lamb wave scattering for two flaw-types in an aircraft-grade aluminum plate, a rounded rectangle flat-bottom hole and a disbond of the same shape. The plate thickness and flaws explored in this work include frequency-thickness regions where several Lamb wave modes exist and sometimes overlap in phase and/or group velocity. For the case of the flat-bottom hole the depth was incrementally increased to explore progressive changes in multiple-mode Lamb wave scattering due to the damage. The flat-bottom hole simulation results have been compared to experimental data and are shown to provide key insight for this well-defined experimental case by explaining unexpected results in experimental waveforms. For the rounded rectangle disbond flaw, which would be difficult to implement experimentally, we found that Lamb wave behavior differed significantly from the flat-bottom hole flaw. Most of the literature in this field is restricted to low frequency-thickness regions due to difficulties in interpreting data when multiple modes exist. We found that benchmarked 3D EFIT simulations can yield an understanding of scattering behavior for these higher frequency-thickness regions and in cases that would be difficult to set up experimentally. Additionally, our results show that 2D simulations would not have been sufficient for modeling the complicated scattering that occurred.     

用于储罐底板缺陷检测的超声兰姆波模式研究

从超声兰姆波的声场方程出发,得到板材表面离面位移(法向位移)为零的条件,即当超声兰姆波的相速度等于板材介质的纵波声速时,在板材表面的离面位移为零。在给定适当频厚积的条件下,分别数值模拟了仅有切向位移而无离面位移的A1、S1、A2和S2兰姆波模式在有液体负载的单层钢板中的传播情形。结果表明:离面位移为零的S2模式频散较小且对板中缺陷更为敏感。     

On the crossing points of the Lamb modes and the maxima and minima of displacements observed at the surface

This article elaborates on the crossing points of the frequency–wavenumber branches for the symmetric and anti-symmetric Lamb modes in a homogeneous plate. It is shown both theoretically as well as experimentally that at these crossing points either the normal or the longitudinal components of modal displacement attain an extreme value, i.e. a maximum or it vanishes. This behavior is assessed herein using a method due to Mindlin, who showed that the dispersion curves for a plate with mixed boundary conditions – which are associated with uncoupled shear and dilatational modes – provide bounds to the spectral lines of the free plate. Therefore, a subset of the crossing points of the symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb modes for a free plate coincide with the crossing points for a plate with mixed boundary conditions.     

两侧有固体层负载时板中Lamb波的传播

本文研究了薄板二面有固体导负载时板中Ｌａｍｂ波的传播，从弹性波理论出发并结合应的边界条件，导出板中Ｌａｍｂ波的色散方程，数值计算表示，不管作为自由状态时板中Ｌａｍｂ波相速（板厚取定时）是大于或小于外层固体的声表面波波速，板中对称及反对称模式的Ｌａｍｂ波相速都随着外层固体层厚度增加而变化并且渐近于外层固体的声表面波波速，数值计算又表明，对很薄的板，板中对称及反对称模式的相速均随负载板的厚度呈线性变化     

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

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.     

The interaction of the S0 Lamb mode with vertical cracks in an aluminium plate

This article presents the interaction of the first symmetric Lamb mode S0 with vertical cracks in an aluminium plate placed in vacuum. The cracks are symmetrical regarding to the median plane of the plate and their heights are increasing from 0% to 100% of the plate thickness, by steps of 25%. The frequency-thickness product is chosen to be lower than the S1 frequency cut-off. A modal decomposition method is used to solve the diffraction problem. The variation with the height of the crack of the reflection and transmission coefficients of modes propagating in the far field is predicted. The displacement fields at both sides of the cracks are also calculated, so that it is possible to quantify the crack-opening displacement. These results are compared to numerical predictions obtained using a finite element software. Measurements are also conducted and compared to the predictions.     

Propagation Properties of Backward Lamb Waves in Plate Investigated by Dynamic Photoelastic Technique

The dynamic photoelastic technique is employed to visualize and quantify the propagation properties of backward Lamb waves in a plate. Higher energy leaikage of second-order symmetric backward wave mode S_(2 b) in contrast to third-order anti-symmetric backward mode A3 b is shown by the dispersion curve of a plate immersed in water,and then verified by experiments. To avoid the considerable high leakage, the plate is placed in air, both group and phase velocities of modes S_(2 b) and A3 b in the glass plate are experimentally measured. In comparison with the theoretical values, less than 5% errors are found in experiments.     

轨道板中超声兰姆波传播的有限元计算和实验*

该文针对我国高速铁路轨道板缺陷的非接触动态检测问题,研究了空气耦合超声兰姆波在轨道板中的传播规律。首先,给出了轨道板中超声兰姆波的相速度和群速度频散曲线,结果表明:随着频厚积的增加,频散现象越明显,并且A0相速度收敛于Rayleigh波的波速。然后,建立轨道板中波传播的有限元模型,计算得到兰姆波传播的群速度为2220 m/s,且二维傅里叶变换系数的较大值沿Rayleigh波的频散曲线分布。最后,在沪杭高铁嘉兴南站进行了现场测试,以8.8°倾斜角向轨道板激励产生超声兰姆波,激发产生的兰姆波模态群速度为2325 m/s,且二维傅里叶变换分析其系数的较大值沿Rayleigh波的频散曲线分布。有限元计算结果和实验结果均与理论计算结果一致。该研究为后续轨道板缺陷的非接触动态检测提供了理论依据和实验方法。     

Simple expressions of the reflection and transmission coefficients of fundamental Lamb waves by a rectangular notch

The scattering of Lamb waves by a two-dimensional rectangular notch is investigated for rapid inspection of defects in a structure. To derive the reflection and transmission coefficients of the scattered waves in a simple way, the scattering caused by the notch is analyzed through the composition of individual scattering processes. Linear equations corresponding to the reflection and transmission coefficients are constructed along with scattering graphs. For an illustration of the efficacy of the presented method, the scattering of fundamental symmetric and anti-symmetric modes are inspected according to the depth and width of a notch in a plate. Validity of these expressions is demonstrated by the comparison of the theoretical analysis results with those from the finite element analysis.     

A combined finite element and modal decomposition method to study the interaction of Lamb modes with micro-defects

This paper presents a combined finite element and modal decomposition method to study the interaction of Lamb waves with damaged area. The finite element mesh is used to describe the region around the defects. On the contrary to other hybrid models already developed, the interaction between Lamb waves and defects is computed in the temporal domain. Then, the modal decomposition method permits to determine the wave reflected and transmitted by the damaged area. Modal analysis allows also identifying the mode conversions induced by the defects. These numerical results agree with previous finite element results concerning the interaction of Lamb modes with a notch. Experiments, carried out with gauged defects on an aluminum plate, are also compared to numerical predictions to validate the simulation. Compared to classical techniques of simulation, this new method allows us to investigate the interaction of Lamb modes generated at high frequency-thickness product with micro-defects as corrosion pitting.     

Importance of the near Lamb mode imaging of multilayered composite plates.

In recent years Lamb waves are being used for internal defect detection in multilayered composite plates. Different Lamb modes generate various stress levels in different layers. As a result, all Lamb modes are not equally sensitive to internal defects of various layers. A number of studies have been carried out to identify which Lamb mode is most effective for detecting defects in a specific layer. However, one shortcoming of the Lamb wave inspection technique is that in a symmetrically layered composite plate stress and displacement magnitudes and energy distribution profiles for all Lamb modes are symmetric about the central plane of the plate. As a result, the ability of a Lamb mode to detect defects in a specific layer of the plate is identical to its ability to detect defects in the corresponding layer of mirror symmetry. Hence, from the Lamb wave generated image one cannot distinguish between the defects in these two layers of mirror symmetry. In this paper it is investigated how by fine-tuning the frequency and the striking angle of the incident beam in the neighborhood of a Lamb mode one can separately detect internal defects in layers of mirror symmetry in the upper and lower halves of a plate.     

On the reflection of coupled Rayleigh-like waves at surface defects in plates

The reflection of coupled Rayleigh-like waves from surface defects in elastic plates is investigated experimentally and analyzed on the basis of an analytical model and finite difference simulations. The propagation of Rayleigh-like waves in plates is characterized by an energy transfer to the opposite plate side and back over a distance called the beat length. Experimental results clearly show this beating effect and its dependency on the frequency-thickness product, and excellent agreement is obtained with existing analytical predictions. The propagation and scattering are modeled separately for the fundamental A(0) and S(0) Lamb modes that constitute the incident Rayleigh-like wave. The reflection coefficients from surface slots are investigated using finite difference simulations and the reflected Rayleigh-like wave is obtained by superposition. The theoretical model reveals strong dependencies of the reflected field on the ratio between excitation distance and beat length and on the cutoff frequencies of specific higher Lamb modes. Standard pulse-echo measurements allow for the detection of small defects from a remote transducer location. Good agreement is obtained between the predicted and measured amplitude spectra of the reflected Rayleigh-like wave. The developed model allows for the evaluation of defect location and damaged plate side using a combination of time-of-flight and frequency measurements.     

Absorption of zero Lamb waves in an elastic layer by mechanical resonators with friction

The propagation of zero Lamb waves in a plate with mechanical resonators attached to its surfaces is studied. It is shown that, in a plate that is single-mode for symmetric (antisymmetric) waves, the zero symmetric (antisymmetric) Lamb wave can be absorbed by mechanical resonators with a certain friction. The single-mode (for symmetric or antisymmetric waves) plate can be not thin compared to the wavelength of the transverse wave.     

Damage detection in composite panels based on mode-converted Lamb waves sensed using 3D laser scanning vibrometer

This paper introduces damage identification approach based on guided ultrasonic waves and 3D laser Doppler vibrometry. The method is based on the fact that the symmetric and antisymmetric Lamb wave modes differ in amplitude of the in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations. Moreover, the modes differ also in group velocities and normally they are well separated in time. For a given time window both modes can occur simultaneously only close to the wave source or to a defect that leads to mode conversion. By making the comparison between the in-plane and out-of-plane wave vector components the detection of mode conversion is possible, allowing for superior and reliable damage detection. Experimental verification of the proposed damage identification procedure is performed on fuel tank elements of Reusable Launch Vehicles designed for space exploration. Lamb waves are excited using low-profile, surface-bonded piezoceramic transducers and 3D scanning laser Doppler vibrometer is used to characterize the Lamb wave propagation field. The paper presents theoretical background of the proposed damage identification technique as well as experimental arrangements and results.     

Laser-ultrasonic generation of Lamb waves in the reaction force range

The Laser-ultrasonic generation of Lamb waves in an elastic plate is investigated theoretically and experimentally for a laser source whose intensity is high enough to create reaction forces (normal tractions) on the illuminated surface of the specimen. The analytical solutions for transient waves are derived using the integral transform method first by considering an arbitrary source shape and time excitation function, and then specifically for circular and line source shapes. The simulation study allows us not only to predict the behavior of individual wave modes but also to construct the overall responses; thus it helps us better understand the wave excitation mechanisms. The dispersive and multi-modal nature of laser-generated Lamb waves is presented by showing the spatiotemporal Fourier transform of displacements obtained by the simulation study. The transform, displayed in the frequency-wave number domain, enunciates the characteristics of the propagating individual Lamb wave modes. The simulation results are then compared with the 2-D Fourier transform of a set of experimental data obtained by scanning an aluminum plate specimen.     

Characterization of mechanical properties of a hollow cylinder with zero group velocity Lamb modes

Hollow cylinders used in the industry must be regularly inspected. Elastic guided waves, similar to Lamb modes in a plate, can propagate in the axial direction or around the circumference. They are sensitive to geometrical and mechanical parameters of the cylindrical shell. The objective of this paper is to show that zero group velocity (ZGV) Lamb modes can be used to bring out anisotropy and to measure elastic constants of the material. This study provides experimental and numerical investigations on a Zirconium alloy tube extensively used by the nuclear industry in reactor core components. A non-contact method, based on laser ultrasound techniques and ZGV Lamb modes, demonstrates that the difference observed between axial and circumferential guided waves cannot be explained by an isotropic model. Then, a transverse isotropic model is used for the Zircaloy tube. Four of the five elastic constants are directly extracted from ZGV resonance frequencies. The last one is deduced from the measured dispersion spectra. With this complete set of constants, a good agreement is obtained between theoretical and experimental dispersion curves for both axially and circumferentially propagating guided waves.     

Symmetric and Anti-Symmetric Lamb Waves in a Two-Dimensional Phononic Crystal Plate

It is weft known that Lamb waves in a plate with a mirror plane can be separated into two uncoupled sets： symmetric and anti-symmetric modes. Based on this property, we present a revised plane wave expansion method （PWE） to calculate the band structure of a phononie crystal （PC） plate with a mirror plane. The developed PWE method can be used to calculate the band structure of symmetric and anti-symmetric modes separately, by which the depending relationship between the partial acoustic band gap （PABG）, which belongs to the symmetric and anti-symmetric modes alternatively, and the position of the scatterers can be determined. As an example of its application, the band structure of the Lamb modes in a two-dimensional PC plate with two layers of void circular inclusions is investigated. The results show that the band structure for the symmetric and anti-symmetric modes can be changed by the position of the scatterers drastically, and larger PABGs will be opened when the scatterers are inserted into the area of the plate, where the elastic potential energy is concentrated.     

Negative group velocity Lamb waves on plates and applications to the scattering of sound by shells

Symmetric Lamb waves on plates exhibit anomalies for certain regions of frequency. The phase velocity appears to be double-valued [M. F. Werby and H. Uberall, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 111, 2686-2691 (2002)] with one of the branches having a negative group velocity relative to the corresponding phase velocity. The classification of the symmetric plate modes for frequencies appearing to have a double-valued phase velocity is reviewed here. The complication of a double-valued velocity is avoided by examining mode orthogonality and the complex wave-number spectra. Various authors have noted an enhancement in the backscattering of sound by elastic shells in water that occurs for frequencies where symmetric leaky Lamb waves (generalized to case of a shell) have contra-directed group and phase velocities. The ray diagram for negative group velocity contributions to the scattering by shells [G. Kaduchak, D. H. Hughes, and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 96, 3704-3714 (1994)] is unusual since for this type of mode the energy on the shell flows in the opposite direction of the wave vector. Circumnavigation of the shell is not required for the leaky ray to be backward directed.     

Generalized thermoelastic Lamb waves in a plate bordered with layers of inviscid liquid

The propagation of thermoelastic waves in a homogeneous isotropic, thermally conducting plate bordered with layers of inviscid liquid or half-space of inviscid liquid on both sides is investigated in the context of generalized theories of thermoelasticity. Secular equations for the plate in closed form and isolated mathematical conditions for symmetric and antisymmetric wave modes in completely separate terms are derived. The results for coupled and uncoupled theories of thermoelasticity have been obtained as particular cases. The different regions of secular equations are obtained and special cases, such as Lame modes, thin plate waves and short wavelength waves of the secular equations are also discussed. The secular equations for thermoelastic leaky Lamb waves are also obtained and deduced. The amplitudes of displacement components and temperature change have also been computed and studied. Finally, the numerical solution is carried out for an aluminum-epoxy composite and aluminum materials plate bordered with water. The dispersion curves for symmetric and antisymmetric thermoelastic wave modes and amplitudes of displacement and temperature change in case of fundamental symmetric (S₀) and skew symmetric (A₀) modes are presented in order to illustrate and compare the theoretical results. The theory and numerical computations are found to be in close agreement. The results have been deduced and compared with the relevant publications available in the literature at the relevant stages of the work.     

Normal mode expansion method for laser-generated ultrasonic Lamb waves in orthotropic thin plates

A quantitative theory for modeling the laser-generated transient ultrasonic Lamb waves, which propagates along arbitrary directions in orthotropic plates, is presented by employing an expansion method of generalized Lamb wave modes. The displacement field is expressed by a summation of the symmetric and antisymmetric modes in the surface stress-free orthotropic plate, and therefore the theory is particularly appropriate for waveform analyses of Lamb waves in thin plates because one needs only to evaluate several lower modes. The transient waveforms excited by the thermoelastic expansion and the oil-coating evaporation are analyzed for a transversely isotropic thin plate. The results show that the theory provides a quantitative analysis to characterize anisotropic elastic stiffness properties of orthotropic plates by laser-generated Lamb wave detection.