Reflection and transmission coefficients from rectangular notches in pipes

english

2014

volume 60, issue 5

Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za strojništvo
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

The use of a single, non-dispersive ultrasonic guided wave mode is one important approach to monitoring a structure's health. It is advantageously non-destructive with the ability of propagating over tens of metres to detect a hidden defect. The dimensional assessment of a defect, on the other hand, requires reflection coefficients for two or more such modes. Multiple modes may be excited simultaneously by applying a short pulse to a structure%s external surface. This situation is examined here for a circular, hollow and homogeneous, isotropic pipe having negligible damping and an open rectangular notch. A finite element model is employed in a region around a notch. It is coupled to a wave function expansion in the two adjacent, effectively, semi-infinite pipes. Representative longitudinal and flexural modes are investigated for different notch dimensions. A nonaxisymmetric notch, unlike an axisymmetric notch, introduces a plethora of cross modal couplings that lead to more singularities in a reflection coefficient's frequency dependence. There is, however, a common pattern to these distinctive singularities. It is conjectured that singularities corresponding to propagating modes may enable a notch to be detected and its dimensions determined.

08.05.2017