Abstract
There exists a great variety of structural failure modes which must be frequently inspected to ensure continuous structural integrity of composite structures. This work presents a finite element (FE) based method for calculating wave interaction with damage within structures of arbitrary layering and geometric complexity. The principal novelty is the investigation of pre-stress effect on wave propagation and scattering in layered structures. A wave finite element (WFE) method, which combines FE analysis with periodic structure theory (PST), is used to predict the wave propagation properties along periodic waveguides of the structural system. This is then coupled to the full FE model of a coupling joint within which structural damage is modelled, in order to quantify wave interaction coefficients through the joint. Pre-stress impact is quantified by comparison of results under pressurised and non-pressurised scenarios. The results show that including these pressurisation effects in calculations is essential. This is of specific relevance to aircraft structures being intensely pressurised while on air. Numerical case studies are exhibited for different forms of damage type. The exhibited results are validated against available analytical and experimental results.
Highlights
Composite structures are increasingly used in modern aerospace and automobile industries due to their well-known benefits
The developed non-destructive evaluation (NDE) approaches can be classified into matrix formulation techniques: in which ultrasonic waves in layered media are defined by coupling the matrix formulation of each of the layers which constitute the media, and wave propagation techniques: which strongly rely on the calculation of dispersion curves and wave interaction reflection and transmission coefficients to inspect and evaluate structural media
Modelling parameters used for the wave finite element (WFE)/finite element (FE) methodology are chosen to match those used for the full FE simulation and the experimental measurements in [39]
Summary
Composite structures are increasingly used in modern aerospace and automobile industries due to their well-known benefits. The developed NDE approaches can be classified into matrix formulation techniques: in which ultrasonic waves in layered media are defined by coupling the matrix formulation of each of the layers which constitute the media, and wave propagation techniques: which strongly rely on the calculation of dispersion curves and wave interaction reflection and transmission coefficients to inspect and evaluate structural media. The pre-stress effect is evaluated by comparing the wave response (dispersion and reflection properties) of the pressurised structure to that of non-pressurised structure. This is exhibited through presented numerical case studies. Descriptions of each of these methods and their applicability are given
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
