title: Scattering of the fundamental anti-symmetric Lamb wave at delaminations in composite laminates.
abstract: An analysis of the scattering characteristics of the fundamental anti-symmetric (A(0)) Lamb wave at a delamination in a quasi-isotropic composite laminate is presented. Analytical solutions for this problem do not exist due to the anisotropic nature and multilayer characteristics of composite laminates. This study uses a three-dimensional finite element (FE) method and experimental measurements to provide physical insight into the scattering phenomena. Good agreement is found between simulations and experimental measurements. The results show that the A(0) Lamb wave scattering at a delamination in composite laminates is much more complicated than the scattering at a defect in isotropic plates. Scatter amplitudes and scatter directivity distributions depend on the delamination size to wavelength ratio and the through-thickness location of the delamination damage. The study also investigates the feasibility of the common experimental practice of simulating delamination damage by bonding masses to the surface of composite laminates for guided wave damage detection and characterization methodologies verifications. The results suggest that care is required to use bonded masses to simulate delamination damage for verifying and optimizing damage characterization techniques. In summary, the results of the investigation help to further advance the use of the A(0) Lamb wave for damage detection and characterization.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Ching-Tai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veidt
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds