Boundary element modeling for defect characterization potential in a wave guide

Wave scattering analysis implemented by boundary element methods (BEM) and the normal mode expansion technique is used to study the sizing potential of two-dimensional shaped defects in a wave guide. Surface breaking half-elliptical shaped defects of three opening lengths (0.3, 6.35 and 12.7 mm) and through-wall depths of 10–90% on a 10 mm thick steel plate were considered. The reflection and transmission coefficients of both Lamb and shear horizontal (SH) waves over a frequency range 0.05–2 MHz were studied. A powerfully practical result was obtained whereby the numerical results for the S0 mode Lamb wave and n0 mode SH wave at low frequencies showed a monotonic increase in signal amplitude with an increase in the defect through-wall depth. At high frequency (usually above the cut-off frequency of the A1 mode for Lamb waves and the n1 mode for SH waves, respectively), the monotonic trend does not hold in general due to the energy redistribution to the higher order wave modes. Guided waves impinging onto an internal stringer-like an inclusion were also studied. Both the Lamb and SH waves were shown to be insensitive to the stringer internal inclusions at low frequency. Experiments with piezoelectric Lamb wave transducers and non-contact SH wave electro-magnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) verified some of the theoretical results.