Semi-analytical hybrid approach for modelling wave motion excited by a piezoelectric transducer in a laminate with multiple cracks

Abstract

A semi-analytical hybrid approach is presented here to simulate the dynamic behaviour of a multi-layered elastic waveguide with a system of delaminations and a piezoelectric transducer mounted on the surface of the waveguide. The proposed hybrid approach combines the advantages of the frequency domain spectral element method, which is applied to discretize a complex-shaped piezoelectric structure, and the boundary integral equation method employed to simulate wave propagation in multi-layered waveguide with multiple delaminations. The proposed method is applicable to the multi-parameter analysis of the phenomena related to elastic wave scattering and excitation. The advantages of the presented extended semi-analytical hybrid approach method along with the results of the parametric analysis of wave propagation in the considered structures are discussed.