Damage detection in multilayered fiber–metal laminates using guided-wave phased array

This study employs the Lamb wave method to detect damage in Fiber–metal laminates (FMLs). The method is based on quasi-isotropic behavior approximation and beamforming techniques. Delay and sum and minimum variance distorsionless response beamformers are applied to a uniform linear phased array. The simulation in finite element software is conducted to evaluate the performance of the presented procedure. The two types of damage studied are the following: (1) Delamination between fiber–epoxy and metal layers and (2) crack on the metal layer. The present study has the following important contributions: (1) Health monitoring of multi-damaged FMLs using Lamb waves and beamforming technique, (2) detection of damage type, (3) detection of damage size by 1D phased array, and (4) identification of damages that occurred very close to the laminate edges or close to each other.