Damage localization in metallic plate structures using edge-reflected lamb waves

This paper presents a model-based guided ultrasonic waves imaging algorithm, in which multiple ultrasonic echoes caused by reflections from the plate’s boundaries are leveraged to enhance imaging performance. An analytical model is proposed to estimate the envelope of scattered waves. Correlation between the estimated and experimental data is used to generate images. The proposed method is validated through experimental tests on an aluminum plate instrumented with three low profile piezoelectric transducers. Different damage conditions are simulated including through-thickness holes. Results are compared with two other imaging localization methods, that is, delay and sum and minimum variance.