Simulation of guided wave interaction with defects in rope structures

Abstract

Ultrasonic waves travel in rope structures over long distances as guided waves, allowing for effective Structural Health Monitoring. In order to localize and characterize defects, an exact knowledge of the propagation, reflection, and transmission properties of the ultrasonic waves is required. These properties can be obtained using the Finite ElementMethod by modeling a segment of the periodic waveguide with a periodicity condition. The solution of the corresponding eigenvalue problem leads to all propagating modes of the waveguide as well as non-propagatingmodes. The Boundary Element Method is used in combination with the Finite Element Method for characterizing the wave propagation. The mode conversion at discontinuities, such as cracks or notches, can be subsequently described by reflection and transmission coefficients. The simulation results are the corresponding coefficients as a function of frequency and enable the selection of adequate modes for effective defect detection. Additionally, it is demonstrated that along with the localization of cracks, conclusions about the crack geometry can be made with the help of reflection and transmission coefficients. The reliability and numerical accuracy of the simulation results are verified by transient FE simulations. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2013.