Comparison of finite element models simulating the interaction of ultrasonic guided waves with sites of disbonding in composites

Disbonding in composite structures is a serious defect which can dramatically reduce the structures' life, and can lead to catastrophic failure. To avoid this, non-destructive testing or structural health monitoring techniques are needed. One such technique involves ultrasonic guided waves, which has recently found use in this field thanks to its ability to inspect in non-accessible areas and over long distances. Numerical models are often used since they can help understand experimental results and offer the ability to simulate different damage scenarios, predicting results with less cost than experiments. In this work, sites of disbonding between an orthotropic composite plate and an isotropic polyamide plate were modeled via the finite element method. Two simplistic methods for modeling the damage site are employed, and results will be compared with experimental data. Model types include introduction of a geometrical void at the interface boundary and addressing boundary conditions between adjacent lay...