Excitation and propagation of non-axisymmetric guided waves in a hollow cylinder

Excitation and propagation of non-axisymmetric guided waves in a hollow cylinder is studied by using the normal mode expansion method (NME). Different sources such as angle beam, tube end excitation with normal beam, and comb transducer possibilities are discussed based on the derivations of the NME method. Numerical calculations are focused on the case of angle beam partial loading. Based on the NME method, the amplitude coefficients for all of the harmonic modes are obtained. Due to the difference of phase velocities for different modes, the superimposed total field varies with propagating distances and hence makes particle displacement distribution patterns (angular profile) change with distance. This varying non-axisymmetric angular profile of guided waves represents a nonuniform energy distribution around the hollow cylinder and thus has an impact on the inspection ability of guided waves. The angular profiles of an angle beam source are predicted by theory and then verified by experiments. The predicted angular profiles also provide information for determining the transducer location to find defects in a certain position on the hollow cylinder.