Lamb wave beam-steering for integrated health monitoring applications
Résumé
The use of integrated Lamb wave sources (piezoelectric transducers) is known as a possible way of performing integrated, on-line health monitoring. Either omnidirectional (circular) or quasi-unidirectional (bar-shaped) transducers can be used. However, both of them have their own drawbacks, which makes them not optimal. A much more satisfying solution could be the use of phase-delayed multi-element arrays to perform angular steering of the emitted Lamb wave beam. In this paper both the proper conditions and the limitations for the applicability and performance of Lamb wave beam steering using integrated piezoelectric arrays are established. Then experimental damage detection capabilities using this principle are demonstrated.