Enhanced nonlinear crack-wave interactions for structural damage detection based on Lamb waves

Abstract

The paper presents a novel damage detection method that combines Lamb wave propagation with nonlinear acoustics. Low-frequency excitation is used to modulate Lamb waves in the presence of fatigue cracks. The work presented shows that the synchronization of the interrogating high-frequency Lamb wave with the low-frequency vibration is a key element of the proposed method. The main advantages of the proposed method are the lack of necessity for baseline measurements representing undamaged condition and lack of sensitivity to temperature variations. Numerical simulations and experimental measurements are performed to demonstrate the application of the proposed method to detect fatigue crack in aluminum beam.