This is a joint project with Dr Marc Deschamps at the University of Bordeaux. A thorough understanding of the nature of the propagation of guided waves in plates is fundamental to the exploitation of long-range testing techniques, but some aspects are still only moderately well understood. So far the techniques which are emerging are addressing the simplest cases of waves which propagate in flat isotropic plates or along the principal axes of anisotropic plates (carbon fibre composites for example) or along the axes of pipe structures. A scientific understanding of the nature of the energy propagation in arbitrary directions in plates, which may in general be anisotropic, absorbing, and curved, will support the further development of such techniques. The project aims to improve understanding in general in this area with initial emphasis on flat anisotropic plates.
References
P D Wilcox, M J S Lowe, P Cawley, “The effect of dispersion on long range inspection using ultrasonic guided waves”, NDT & E International, vol. 34, pp. 1-9, 2001.
A Bernard, M J S Lowe, M Deschamps, "Guided waves energy velocity in absorbing and non-absorbing plates", J.Acoust. Soc. Am., vol. 110, pp. 186-196, 2001.