Variation in the group velocity of Lamb waves as a tool for the detection of delamination in GLARE aluminium plate-like structures

With the development of new technology and use of lightweight material such as composite laminates, new methods must be developed for in situ structural health monitoring of these materials. This paper introduces an approach for the detection of delamination present in GLARE aluminium specimens. The approach is based on the change in group velocity of Lamb waves with frequency-thickness product as the determinant parameter for the detection of delamination. Two methods are applied: a surface contact method, which utilises a wedge probe tuned to excite a single Lamb mode, and the embedded PZT method, which involves incorporating lead zirconate titanate (PZT) elements in the glass fibre reinforced resin matrix during the manufacture of the GLARE aluminium specimens. It was found that both methods enabled the detection of delaminations in the GLARE aluminium specimens, within certain limits, which are stated. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.