Non-contact damage detection on a rotating blade by Lamb wave analysis

Propeller inspection is mandatory for safe operation of aircraft. Damage evaluation on such rotating structures requires dedicated measurement techniques. In this study efforts to create a stroboscopic technique are reported. Lamb waves were excited on a rotating blade with a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser synchronized to the sample rotation, whereas the wave amplitude was obtained by a laser Doppler vibrometer. A surface breaking notch on an aluminum sample rotating at 415 rpm was detected and sized with millimeter accuracy. The technique has potential for automatic non-contacting damage detection on rotating structures such as helicopter blades and turbines.