Numerical prediction and experimental verification of temperature effect on plate waves generated and received by piezoceramic sensors

This work proposes a numerical approach based on a Semi-Analytical Finite Element (SAFE) model to predict temperature effects on guided waves generated and received by low-profile piezoceramic (PZT) transducers. The proposed model includes the cumulative role of transducer elements (actuator and sensor), substrate structure, and transducer/structure interaction, in the prediction of the full pitch-catch guided wave response under changing temperature. Experimental tests were carried out in a controlled environmental chamber at different temperatures ranging from −40 °C up to 60 °C. Time and frequency domain based system responses were obtained. Numerical versus experimental results show that the proposed model is capable of capturing the effect of temperature on PZTs generated/received Lamb waves with great accuracy. In addition, because the SAFE is capable to model also wave propagation in anisotropic plates, the proposed model can lay the groundwork for the development of more robust Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) strategies for complex aerospace structures.

► A SAFE model to predict the temperature effect on PZT generated/received guided waves is proposed.
► Suitable models are proposed to incorporate PZT sensors into a SAFE formulation.
► Lamb wave testing were carried out at temperatures ranging from −40 °C up to 60 °C.
► Temperature has a negligible effect on the Lamb wave wavelength tuning.
► Temperature has noticeable effect on the pitch-catch PZT Lamb wave response strength.