Understanding the effect of boundary conditions on damage identification process when using non-linear elastic wave spectroscopy methods

Abstract This paper presents an experimental campaign aimed at understanding the limitations and capabilities of non-linear elastic wave spectroscopy (NEWS) non-destructive technique (NDT) methods in the presence of variable boundary conditions. In particular, the objective was to understand if the contact between the structures under investigation and the clamps used to hold the structures could generate non-classical non-linear effects that could affect the damage detection process by producing false-positive indications of defects presence. Two different techniques were analysed with varying degree clamping torque. The first approach evaluates the resonance frequency shift as a function of the external load amplitude, and it is called non-linear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (NRUS). The second method used, called non-linear wave modulation spectroscopy (NWMS), monitors the generation of sidebands and harmonics when the structure is excited by a double tone external load. The results showed that the non-classical hysteretical non-linear effects were dependent on the boundary conditions, highlighted by the presence of resonance shift and harmonics and sidebands in an undamaged sample. This research shows that more work is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods and the ease of implementation in a structural health monitoring system and further research studies and methodology development are needed to discern non-classical non-linear effects generated by contacts between mating parts (clamps and sample) from that generated due to the presence of damage.