Surface acoustic wave measurements of small fatigue cracks initiated from a surface cavity

A model for the low frequency scattering of a surface acoustic wave by a surface cylindrical cavity with two corner cracks is presented. It is applied to determine the depth of the small fatigue cracks initiated from a pit-type surface flaw. The general scattering formalism based on the clastodynamic reciprocity principle is employed. The effect of the cylindrical cavity on the surface wave reflection from cracks is considered using an approximate stress intensity factor for the corner cracks. In situ surface acoustic wave measurements have been performed during fatigue tests for an Al 2024-T3 sample. The surface wave signal was acquired continuously at different cyclic load levels. The model is verified by comparing calculated reflection signals and spectra with those from experiments. The depths of fully and partially open cracks are determined from the predicted and the measured surface wave reflections. The surface wave reflection is observed to be sensitive to crack closure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.