Project brief
Research project implementing guided elastic wave propagation for non-destructive evaluation of aircraft carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) panels. Piezoelectric (PZT) actuators generate Lamb waves that propagate through the panel; the signal processing pipeline applies delay-and-sum beamforming imaging to detect and localize delamination damage, with an ML classifier estimating damage severity.
The record describes guided-wave inspection research on composite panels. The narrative does not add experimental images, detection probabilities, or coupon results.
The engineering challenge
Distinguish structural-change signals from propagation and environmental effects in composite panels.
Engineering approach
- Arrange excitation and acquisition across the stated piezoelectric array.
- Apply temperature correction and delay-and-sum imaging.
- Relate reconstructed indications to the severity-classification workflow.
Features & capabilities
- 8-transducer PZT array (Physik Instrumente P-876) for Lamb wave excitation
- Custom NI DAQ interface at 5MHz sample rate, 100μs acquisition window
- Delay-and-sum beamforming damage imaging: 0.5cm × 0.5cm resolution
- Sub-centimeter damage localization accuracy validated on CFRP coupons
- Random forest classifier: damage severity (none/minor/major) at 88% accuracy
- Temperature compensation for wave speed variation over -20°C to +80°C
- Comparison study: pitch-catch vs pulse-echo vs phased array modes
- Publication-ready automated report generation with damage maps
Software & engineering tools
MATLAB R2024a, Signal Processing Toolbox, Statistics Toolbox, NI 9215 DAQ, PZT actuators/sensors, Python ML integration