Full wavefield method for damage detection in stiffened CFRP panel

In this paper results of analysis of guided wave propagation phenomenon in stiffened composite panel are presented. Panel is made of carbon fibers reinforced polymer. Presented research employs method that is based on full wavefield measurement approach where elastic wave sensing is performed in dense mesh of points covering whole surface of the panel. Elastic wave sensing process is conducted using Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer while as waves excitation is performed by piezoelectric transducer. Interactions of elastic waves with stiffener and artificial discontinuities are investigated. Artificial discontinuities in the forms of additional mass and impact damage are investigated. Authors investigated the influence of the reinforcing fibres orientation, problems of material damping and interaction of wave with stiffener on possibility of damage detection. The aim of proposed simple signal processing is damage detection and localization.