A Lamb waves based statistical approach to structural health monitoring of carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites

• Published in: Ultrasonics 2015-07, Vol.60, p.51-64
• Main Authors: Carboni, Michele, Gianneo, Andrea, Giglio, Marco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite; Design of Experiments; Structural health monitoring; Ultrasonic Lamb waves
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2015.02.011

•A single ultrasonic Lamb A0 mode is obtained at frequencies up to 50kHz.•A statistical analysis of the SHM process was carried out via Design of Experiments.•Responses to artificial and natural delaminations are very similar.•Pitch–Catch responses depend on damage extension in the CFRP laminate.•Pulse-Echo responses give good recollection of the complex damage mechanism. This research investigates a Lamb-wave based structural health monitoring approach matching an out-of-phase actuation of a pair of piezoceramic transducers at low frequency. The target is a typical quasi-isotropic carbon fibre reinforced polymer aeronautical laminate subjected to artificial, via Teflon patches, and natural, via suitable low velocity drop weight impact tests, delaminations. The performance and main influencing factors of such an approach are studied through a Design of Experiment statistical method, considering both Pulse Echo and Pitch Catch configurations of PZT sensors. Results show that some factors and their interactions can effectively influence the detection of a delamination-like damage.