Finite Element Modeling of Guided Wave Propagation in Plates

This paper aims at developing a numerical model for guided wave propagation in plates and the interaction of modes with defects using Finite Element Modeling (FEM). Guided waves propagate as extensional, flexural and torsional waves. Theoretically, these modes are infinite in number, but only some of these propagate and the others are attenuated. The dispersion curves for a structure reveal the plausibility of these modes. In this paper, FEM is used to examine interaction of first few symmetric and anti‐symmetric modes independently with the cracks of various sizes in a plate. A time‐frequency representation of the acquired guided wave mode signals will be discussed to show the mode sensitivity with crack size.