Finite Element Modelling of Lamb Waves Propagation in 3D Plates and Brass Tubes for Damage Detection

Abstract

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is becoming very significant for preventing catastrophic failures and uninterrupted operation. Due to continuous developments in SHM Lamb wave technique, finite element simulation is emerging as an initial step to be performed to visualize the potential solution to problem. The present study focus on the simulation of Lamb wave response using finite element method and its application to crack detection and identification in 3D aluminium plates and brass tubes using commercially available finite element package ABAQUS. Phase velocity and group velocity dispersion curve are initially plotted for aluminium and brass material. Subsequently simulation of distinct specimens with and without presence cracks is performed. Simulation results were validated and compared with actual results and were found to be in reasonably good agreement. A damage index parameter i.e. amplitude ratio is defined to notice the effect of crack dimensions variation. Interaction of Lamb waves with rectangular, semi-elliptical and semi-circular cracks (shallow to deep) is studied in detail. Also the application of signal processing techniques such as Spectrogram analysis, Fourier transform and Hilbert transform is also reported in this paper.