Crack detection of fiber reinforced beams based on Gabor wavelet transform

In this paper, a damage detection method for the fiber reinforced composite beam is studied by applying Gabor wavelet transform to the dispersive flexural wave analysis. The impact experiment of the pre-cracked beam is investigated. Since wave propagation in the composite beam is too complicated to obtain much information for damage detection, the Gabor wavelet is introduced into the experimental wave signals. From the wavelet results, the arrival times and the amplitudes of incident, crack-reflected and transmitted waves can be gained. At last, the crack location can be determined and the damage extent can be estimated from the crack-reflected wave. ? 2009 SPIE.EI