Guided waves in anisotropic and quasi-isotropic aerospace composites: Three-dimensional simulation and experiment

• 3D guided wave propagation in composite laminates is simulated using elastodynamic finite integration technique.
• Time domain and wavenumber domain comparisons are made between simulation, experimental data, and dispersion curves.
• Results of comparisons match fairly closely and expected reasons for observed differences are discussed.
• X-ray microfocus computed tomography data for a real composite delamination is incorporated into the simulation.
• Results for delamination case demonstrate that complex geometry damage leads to unique scattering and mode conversion.

Three-dimensional (3D) elastic wave simulations can be used to investigate and optimize nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) ultrasonic damage detection techniques for aerospace materials. 3D anisotropic elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT) has been implemented for ultrasonic waves in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates. This paper describes 3D EFIT simulations of guided wave propagation in undamaged and damaged anisotropic and quasi-isotropic composite plates. Comparisons are made between simulations of guided waves in undamaged anisotropic composite plates and both experimental laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) wavefield data and dispersion curves. Time domain and wavenumber domain comparisons are described. Wave interaction with complex geometry delamination damage is then simulated to investigate how simulation tools incorporating realistic damage geometries can aid in the understanding of wave interaction with CFRP damage. In order to move beyond simplistic assumptions of damage geometry, volumetric delamination data acquired via X-ray microfocus computed tomography is directly incorporated into the simulation. Simulated guided wave interaction with the complex geometry delamination is compared to experimental LDV time domain data and 3D wave interaction with the volumetric damage is discussed.