Experimental investigation of leaky Lamb modes by an optically induced grating

By removing the symmetry of a free plate configuration, fluid loading significantly modifies the nature of acoustic waves travelling along a plate, and it even gives existence to new acoustic modes. We present theoretical predictions for the existence, dispersive behavior, and spatial distribution of leaky Lamb waves in a fluid-loaded film. Although Lamb modes are often investigated by studying the radiated fluid waves resulting from their leakage, here their properties are assessed by detecting the wave displacements directly using laser beam deflection. By using crossed laser beam excitation, the detection and analysis of the different modes is done at a fixed wavelength, allowing one to verify the existence, the velocity, and the damping of each predicted mode in a simple and unambiguous way. Our theoretical predictions for the nature of the modes in a water-loaded Plexiglas film, including parts of looping modes, are experimentally confirmed.