Search Results (5)

This paper describes how the thermal treatment of 3D-printed PLA samples, fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), affects elastic properties by means of vibrational spectroscopy and ultrasonic echography. Longitudinal and shear sound velocities were measured experimentally to determine Young’s, bulk, shear, and longitudinal moduli, as well as Poisson’s ratio. The results were complemented with two different simulation approaches—the elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT) and the equivalent electric analog technique implemented with LPSpice—whose predictive performance was assessed using statistical performance metrics. The circuit-based simulation method demonstrated superior agreement with experimental behavior compared to EFIT. Both measured and simulated data reveal that PLA chains undergo overall structural strengthening and enhanced packing up to 2 h of heating, followed by a clear reduction in these enhancements as thermal degradation emerges with further heating. Poisson’s ratio remained relatively stable throughout, indicating minimal impact on strain distribution characteristics despite observable stiffening and subsequent softening. Vibrational ATR (Attenuated Total Reflection) spectra corroborated these findings through systemic shifts in C-COO, C-O-C, and C-O stretching modes associated with the same structural modifications. Overall, this combined experimental–simulation framework provides an integrated understanding of thermally induced mechanical and molecular evolution in 3D-printed PLA relevant to defense applications. Full article

This paper presents the numerical simulation of the ultrasonic wave transmittance utilizing the elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT). With this methodology, it is possible to simulate the propagation of the ultrasound in a medium with a relatively low computational cost. The capability of this technique for determining the elastic properties of fluorophosphate and the aluminosilicate glasses is described in detail. The elastic constants of the glasses were calculated from the theoretically predicted longitudinal and transversal sound velocities and compared with the corresponding experimental data. Furthermore, the calculated and experimental elastic properties of the fluorophosphate and aluminosilicate glasses were correlated with the structural peculiarities of these glasses. This simulation technique is also suitable for unveiling the existence of possible defects in the glasses by comparing the experimental and simulation data. The EFIT technique is shown to be a very useful tool in order to provide fast and easy-to-acquire data regarding also the structural characteristics of various glassy systems. This can be used in conjunction with other spectroscopic techniques which can prove to be extremely useful for the non-destructive testing of vitreous materials. The latter can prove very important when vitreous materials used in optical or optoelectronic applications need continuous monitoring in order to ensure their optimum operation and functionality with limited intervention. The main contribution of this paper is the treatment of numerical time-domain modeling of 2D acoustic wave propagation in a viscoelastic medium by implementing the elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT). Full article

Structural health monitoring (SHM) strategies based on ultrasonic guided waves are very promising regarding thin-walled lightweight structures. To study the performance of such systems, validated numerical analysis tools have to be used. For that procedure, a benchmark between two numerical methods will be presented. The first promising approach is the elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT). Miscellaneous research shows that its capability of capturing wave characteristics and interactions is advanced in various media and structures, including thin-walled composites. The second approach employs conventional shell-type finite elements following the Reissner–Mindlin theory for modelling layered composite structures. The advantage of using such finite element methods (FEM) is their high availability in general purpose simulation tools. As a reference model, the measurement data coming from the Open Guided Waves Project (OGW) was taken into account. The OGW dataset provides the experimental data of ultrasonic guided wave propagation in carbon fiber composite plates with an additional omega stringer. By using this contribution, this experiment was reproduced by simulation. The paper presents the results of a validation and motivates further research, such as in research related to the probability of detection analysis and numerical performance. Full article

The present work investigates the technical feasibility of a condition monitoring setup aiming at the detection of gauge corner cracks (aka head checks) in pearlitic railway rails, using a wayside (i.e., stationary) setup with surface acoustic waves (SAW) as its detection principle. The experimental SAW setup consists of a pitch-catch setup using piezo transducers equipped with comb adaptors to excite and measure narrowband Rayleigh waves with a center frequency of 1 MHz. SAW experiments were performed on a rail subjected to cyclic loading in a 1:1 wheel–rail test rig yielding the specific rolling contact fatigue, i.e., head checks. Elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT) simulations were performed to analyze the surface and bulk wave propagation in the rail and to predict the signals at specific receiver positions. SAW transmission and reflection scenarios at cracks were analyzed numerically via modelled variations of gauge corner crack configurations according to number of cracks (0–3) and depth (0, 0.5 mm and 1 mm). The numerical and the experimental results each show a clear correlation between the appearance and intensity of head check damage and the wave attenuation in transmission mode. Full article

Aluminium coatings and their characterization are of great interest in many fields of application, ranging from aircraft industries to microelectronics. Here, we present the simulation of acoustic wave propagation in aluminium coatings via the elastodynamic finite integration technique (EFIT) in comparison to experimental results. The simulations of intensity (I)–defocus (z) curves, obtained by scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM), were first carried out on an aluminium bulk sample, and secondly on a 1 µm aluminium coating deposited on a silicon substrate. The I(z) curves were used to determine the Rayleigh wave velocity of the aluminium bulk sample and the aluminium coating. The results of the simulations with respect to the Rayleigh velocity were corroborated by non-destructive SAM measurements and laser ultrasonic measurements (LUS). Full article