Development of a new isogeometric finite element and its application for Lamb wave based structural health monitoring

Abstract

In this work, a three-dimensional isogeometric piezoelectric finite element is developed, tested in several benchmarks and compared to other numerical higher order approaches with respect to their ability to model Lamb wave propagation problems. The research results are used to recommend an optimal discretization scheme. To illustrate the advantage of the new isogeometric finite element two structural health monitoring (SHM) specific problems are investigated, namely the dynamic behavior of a piezoceramic actuator and the material induced continuous mode conversion. Both problems are studied numerically as well as experimentally. Results, advantages, disadvantages and extensions of the findings are in detail explained and discussed.