Comparative Study of Coupling Techniques in Lamb Wave Testing of Metallic and Cementitious Plates

[Otros] Lamb waves have emerged as a valuable tool to examine long plate-like structures in a faster way compared to conventional bulk wave techniques, which make them attractive in non-destructive testing. However, they present a multimodal and dispersive nature, which hinders signal identification. Oblique incidence is one of the most known methods to generate and receive Lamb waves and it is applied in different experimental arrangements with different types of sensors. In this work, several setups were conducted and compared to determine the optimal ones to launch and detect ultrasonic Lamb waves, especially in non-homogeneous specimens. The chosen arrangements were contact with angle beam transducers, immersion in a water tank, localised water coupling using conical containers and air coupling. Plates of two different materials were used, stainless steel and Portland cement mortar. Theoretical and experimental dispersion curves were compared to verify the existence of Lamb modes and good correspondence was achieved.This research was funded by the Spanish Administration, grants number BES-2015-071958 and BIA2017-87573-C2.Vazquez-Martinez, S.; Gosálbez Castillo, J.; Bosch Roig, I.; Carrión García, A.; Gallardo-Llopis, C.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ. (2019). Comparative Study of Coupling Techniques in Lamb Wave Testing of Metallic and Cementitious Plates. Sensors. 19(19):1-30. https://doi.org/10.3390/s191940681301919Birgani, P. T., Tahan, K. N., Sodagar, S., & Shishesaz, M. (2015). Theoretical modeling of low-attenuation lamb wave modes generation in three-layer adhesive joints using angle beam transducer. Latin American Journal of Solids and Structures, 12(3), 461-476. doi:10.1590/1679-78251143Seale, M. D., Smith, B. T., & Prosser, W. H. (1998). Lamb wave assessment of fatigue and thermal damage in composites. 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