Experimental and theoretical characterization of acoustic emission transients in composite laminates

Transient wave propagation resulting from transverse matrix cracking in cross-ply composite tensile test specimens are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. In the experiments, broad-band transducers and a fast data-acquisition system enable measurements of transients in a frequency interval up to 1 MHz. The theoretical predictions are based on a model which utilizes a finite-element discretization of the cross-section of the specimen and a Fourier representation of the axial and time dependence. The comparisons between experimental and theoretical results are encouraging. Weak points in the experimental technique and in the theoretical model are identified.