Ultrasonic nonlinear guided waves and applications to structural health monitoring

Abstract

Research efforts on nonlinear guided wave propagation have increased dramatically in the last few decades because of the large sensitivity of nonlinear waves to structural condition (defects, quasi-static loads, instability conditions, etc....). However, the mathematical framework governing the nonlinear guided wave phenomena becomes extremely challenging in the case of waveguides that are complex in either materials (damping, anisotropy, heterogeneous, etc....) or geometry (multilayers, geometric periodicity, etc....). The present work develops predictions of nonlinear second-harmonic generation in complex waveguides by extending the classical Semi-Analytical Finite Element formulation to the nonlinear regime, and implementing it into a highly flexible, yet very powerful, commercial Finite Element code. Results are presented for the following cases: a railroad track, a viscoelastic plate, a composite quasi-isotropic laminate, and a reinforced concrete slab. In these cases, favorable combinations of primary wave modes and resonant double-harmonic nonlinear wave modes are identified. Knowledge of such combinations is important to the implementation of structural monitoring systems for these structures based on higher-harmonic wave generation. The presentation will also present a specific application of nonlinear guided waves for the monitoring of thermal stresses in rail tracks to prevent buckling. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2014.