Experimental and Numerical Study of Lamb Waves Generation Efficiency by Lead Zirconate Titanate Transducers Embedded in a Composite Laminate

In the context of airplane structures monitoring, the performance of an embedded SHM system for composite material components is studied. The present article focuses on the influence of the PZT transducers integration on the Lamb waves it generates. First the article presents finite element modeling of Lamb waves generation in a carbon/epoxy plate, either with surface mounted or with embedded PZT transducer. Ultrasonic wavefield simulated in both configurations are compared. Experiments are also performed on composite laminates with embedded or surface mounted PZT. The out-of-plane displacement induced by PZT excitation on the plate surface is measured by Laser Doppler Vibrometry in both configurations. Out-of-plane displacements are compared together.