Damage Detection of Composite Plates by LambWave Ultrasonic Tomography with a Sparse HexagonalNetwork Using Damage Progression Trends

Abstract EN

Lamb wave based structural health monitoring shows a lot of potentialfor damage detection of composite structures.

However, currently there is noagreement upon optimal network arrangement or detection algorithm.

The objective of this research is to develop a sparse network that can be expandedto detect damage over a large area.

To achieve this, a novel technique basedon damage progression history has been developed.

This technique gives anamplification factor to data along actuator-sensor paths that show a steadyreduction in transmitted power as induced damage progresses and is implemented with the reconstruction algorithm for probabilistic inspection ofdamage (RAPID) technique.

Two damage metrics are used with the algorithm and a comparison is made to the more commonly used signal difference coefficient (SDC) metric.

Best case results show that damage is detected within 12 mm.

The algorithm is also run on a more sparse network with no damage detection, therefore indicating that the selected arrangement is the most sparse arrangement with this configuration.