Experimental and theoretical investigation of scattering from a distribution of cracks

Jerrol W. Littles, Laurence J. Jacobs, Jianmin Qu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental and theoretical investigation that studies the scattering of longitudinal elastic waves by a distribution of cracks. The experimental portion measures the transmission coefficients at imperfect interfaces using a high fidelity heterodyne interferometer. Specimens are manufactured with known distributions of cracks that vary from 0% (perfect interface) to 24%. Incident longitudinal elastic waves are generated with a broadband, contact piezoelectric transducer and the backscattered wave field is measured with the interferometer. The theoretical analysis examines the interaction of elastic waves with a distribution of cracks using a differential self-consistent scheme in conjunction with Auld's formula for backscattering. In this model the multiple scattering problem from a distribution of cracks is reduced to finding the crack opening displacement of a single crack. Transmission coefficients are presented as functions of incident wave-number, flaw size and percentage of defects. The experimentally measured values are compared with the theoretically predicted results and excellent agreement is obtained.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37-43
Number of pages7
JournalUltrasonics
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1995

Keywords

  • differential self-consistent scheme
  • laser interferometry
  • non-destructive evaluation
  • transmission coefficients
  • ultrasonic inspection

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