| This research aims at modifying, improving and calibrating the Stress Wave Factor Nondestructive Evaluation (SWF NDE) technique and applying it to a fiber epoxy composite material and other composite structures. In order to access the composite's integrity the Energy of SWF within a selected Sub Frequency Range (SFR) instead of the whole measured frequency range as of conventional SWF is used. This technique, introduced and examined herein and is termed the Sub Frequency Range Stress Wave Factors (SFR-SWF) and is tailored to improve the conventional SWF technique with respect to sensibility and accuracy.; A series of controlled damage tests were performed, and relevant acousto-ultrasonic observations were conducted. The overall property of the composites subjected to hygrothermal degradation, the localized defects such as the surface crack and the historical damage were assessed with conventional SWF and SFR-SWF. The two methods are compared in detail.; The hygrothermal degradation and surface crack experiments were also simulated using the finite element method. Dynamic numerical analysis was conducted to simulate the wave propagation process, both in time domain and frequency domain using the commercial finite element code ABAQUS. The numerical results were also evaluated via both SWF and SFR-SWF, and were compared with the results of experiments. Thus, the potential of SFR-SWF was evaluated.; A general conclusion from this research is that the SFR-SWF has the better capability than that of the conventional SWF in assessing the composite's overall condition, localized defects and historical damage. Since there are still open questions regarding the physical understanding of the SWF and SFR-SWF, the finite element analysis provides confirmation for certain observed behaviors of the Acousto-Ultrasonic and SFR-SWF technique. |
