Dynamic interface behavior in coupled plates: Investigating Lamb wave mode repulsion with a spring-based model

This study investigates the phenomenon of mode repulsion in Lamb waves propagating through two coupled plates with an elastic interface. Using a spring-based coupling model and the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method, the dispersion curves of the coupled system are analyzed under various interface conditions-weak coupling, sliding boundary, and perfect coupling. This research highlights how the mechanical stiffness of the interface influences the separation of modes and the emergence of repulsion regions. A novel focus on interface displacements reveals a unique dynamic behavior within the repulsion regions, driven by in-phase and out-of-phase oscillations of the coupled plates. The findings provide a physically grounded explanation of mode repulsion, linking it to the strain patterns in the interface. This insight lays the theoretical groundwork for future applications in material characterization and non-destructive evaluation, enabling more precise selection of Lamb wave modes for scientific and industrial purposes.