Analytical and computational study on imaging of through-thickness cylindrical edge in plate-like quasi-isotropic composite laminates using A0-mode Lamb wave

Lamb wave can propagate over distances in composite laminates and has the potential to be used in Nondestructive Testing (NDT). This paper presents the application of the fundamental order anti-symmetric (A0) mode Lamb wave to detect the through-thickness hole defect in the quasi-isotropic composite laminate. The algorithm of this quantitative near-field imaging technique is developed to classify the region of the defect. The proposed method estimatescharacteristics of the region of interest having somewhat inhomogeneity contrasted to the surrounding area. The method deals with locating the overlappingpoints of the incident and scattered wave filed at the boundary region of the defect. The overall computational process along with the analytical study is thoroughly described and investigated the outcome through numerical experiments. Generation of the 3D FE geometry, as well as meshing and the dynamicsimulation, was solved using LS-DYNA. Three cases are considered with varying diameter of the defect. The numerical result depicts in good agreement with the analytical study. The results exhibit that the discussed method enables locating the edge of the defect in the form of the image.