Optimal computation of integrals in the Half-Space Matching method for modal simulation of SHM/NDE in 3D elastic plate

Abstract

Simulating structural health monitoring (SHM) or nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods based on elastic guided waves (GW) is very helpful to handle their complexity (co-existence of several GW modes, frequency dependence of wavespeed) and to further design optimal methods of inspection offering high sensitivity to the sought flaws. The half-space matching (HSM) method has been established for the development of a model that hybridizes local finite element (FE) computations for GW scattering by a flaw, with a modal semi-analytical model for GW radiation and propagation in flawless plate-like structures. Highly oscillatory Integral formulae appear in the HSM method that radiate the scattered field away from the FE zone as the superimposition of modal contributions, which computation can be time-consuming. The present work is concerned with their optimal computation. Integral of this form can be efficiently computed under the far-field approximation but this classical technique fails at predicting accurately wavefields at relatively short distances (small number of wavelengths). The method developed herein relies on the complexification of the integrals to be computed and on specific deformation of integration paths in the complex plane, as detailed in the paper. It allows the evaluation of the integrals without approximation other than that of numerical quadratures, ensuring high accuracy while offering high computing performances. It indifferently applies in the far-field and in the near-field. The method of computation is validated by comparing its predictions with a reference solution of GW scattering. Its computational performances are also demonstrated, compared to those of the standard computation of the HSM integral formulae.