Wavefront estimation in curved-fiber CFRP: A curved Fastest-Path Distribution method for smoothly varying anisotropic...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Acoustics
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) exhibit complex anisotropic properties.
• Accurate ultrasonic wavefront prediction is crucial for nondestructive testing (NDT) of composite materials.
• Existing ray tracing methods struggle with smoothly varying anisotropy in curved structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel wavefront estimation method for curved-fiber CFRP with smoothly varying anisotropy.
• To develop a computationally efficient and accurate technique for predicting ultrasonic wave propagation.
• To validate the proposed method through experimental optical visualization.

Main Methods:

• Developed the Fastest-Path Distribution (FPD) Method based on geometrical acoustics.
• Treated material anisotropy as a continuous field.
• Represented wave trajectories using spline-interpolated curves for curved paths.
• Validated through optical visualization experiments on 3D-printed CFRP plates.

Main Results:

• The FPD method accurately predicted ultrasonic wavefronts in curved-fiber CFRP.
• Predicted wavefronts showed good agreement with experimental observations.
• The method demonstrated efficiency in handling complex anisotropic media.

Conclusions:

• The FPD method provides accurate and efficient wavefront prediction for curved-fiber CFRP.
• This technique supports advanced NDT applications for complex composite structures.
• The study highlights the utility of geometrical acoustics in modeling wave propagation in anisotropic materials.