Numerical Analysis of Guided Waves to Improve Damage Detection and Localization in Multilayered CFRP Panel

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Multilayered carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) are vital for aircraft but susceptible to delamination from impact.
• Undetected delamination can lead to catastrophic structural failure, necessitating advanced detection methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate signal processing methods for improved damage detection and localization in CFRP structures.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of numerical modeling and specific signal processing techniques for identifying delamination defects.

Main Methods:

• Numerical modeling using the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method to generate dispersion curves and modal analysis.
• Selection of the A0 mode for inspecting composite delamination defects.
• Analysis of A0 mode interaction with delamination using Hilbert Transform (HT) and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) for localization.

Main Results:

• Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) demonstrated superior accuracy in delamination localization compared to the Hilbert Transform (HT).
• Delamination depth was characterized by analyzing the amplitude of the A0 mode in the frequency domain.
• Numerical simulations provided insights into guided wave propagation and defect interaction.

Conclusions:

• CWT is a promising technique for precise delamination localization in CFRP components.
• Frequency domain analysis of the A0 mode aids in characterizing delamination depth.
• Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) is recommended for enhanced damage detection and simplified signal interpretation.