Improved damage imaging in aerospace structures using a piezoceramic hybrid pin-force wave generation model

Abstract

In this study, a correlation-based imaging technique called « Excitelet » is used to monitor an aerospace grade aluminum plate, representative of an aircraft component. The principle is based on ultrasonic guided wave generation and sensing using three piezoceramic (PZT) transducers, and measurement of reflections induced by potential defects. The method uses a propagation model to correlate measured signals with a bank of signals and imaging is performed using a roundrobin procedure (Full-Matrix Capture). The formulation compares two models for the complex transducer dynamics: one where the shear stress at the tip of the PZT is considered to vary as a function of the frequency generated, and one where the PZT is discretized in order to consider the shear distribution under the PZT. This method allows taking into account the transducer dynamics and finite dimensions, multi-modal and dispersive characteristics of the material and complex interactions between guided wave and damages. Experimental validation has been conducted on an aerospace grade aluminum joint instrumented with three circular PZTs of 10 mm diameter. A magnet, acting as a reflector, is used in order to simulate a local reflection in the structure. It is demonstrated that the defect can be accurately detected and localized. The two models proposed are compared to the classical pin-force model, using narrow and broad-band excitations. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed imaging techniques for damage monitoring of aerospace structures considering improved models for guided wave generation and propagation. © 2014 SPIE.