Guided wave propagation and skew effects in anisotropic carbon fiber reinforced laminates

Guided ultrasonic waves provide a promising structural health monitoring (SHM) solution for composite structures as they are able to propagate relatively long distances with low attenuation. However, the material anisotropy results in directionally dependent phase and group velocities, in addition to energy focusing, wave skewing, and beam spreading phenomena. These effects could lead to inaccurate damage localization if not accounted for. In this contribution, the guided wave propagation behavior (A0 mode) for a highly anisotropic, unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer laminate is systematically investigated through both finite element analysis and non-contact laser measurements and compared to theoretical predictions. The directional dependency of phase and group velocity measured for a point and line source shows good agreement with theoretical predictions, once a correction for wave skew effects is applied. Wave skew angles were evaluated from the experimental and numerical wave propagation in multiple directions and matched theoretical predictions based on the phase slowness curve. Significant guided wave beam spreading from a line source was observed and quantified from both experiments and simulations and compared with theoretical predictions using the anisotropy factor. The impact of anisotropic guided wave propagation behavior on SHM is discussed.