Hybrid Global Matrix/Local Interaction Simulation Approach for Wave Propagation in Composites

This paper presents a hybrid approach to model guided wave propagation in composite laminates. The global matrix approach is used to determine the displacement field surrounding a piezoelectric actuator. The displacement field is then enforced in a specified region of a numerical model that employs the local interaction simulation approach. This hybrid approach improves upon previous local interaction simulation approach methods that prescribe in-plane displacements within the actuator profile to model actuation. Additionally, it circumvents the problem of modeling nonrectangular actuators in the Cartesian discretization in the local interaction simulation approach. Results show that the hybrid model outperforms previous local interaction simulation approach models when considering actuation from circular, square, and composite long-range variable-direction emitting radar actuators. The hybrid model produces wave propagation time histories that closely match the baseline global matrix method and successfully capture directional effects resulting from the anisotropic nature of composite plates. The dependence of the results on in-plane discretization size is examined for aluminum, cross-ply, unidirectional, and quasi-isotropic plates. The results for the aluminum and unidirectional plates show considerable dependence on the in-plane cell dimensions, but that dependence is less pronounced for the cross-ply and quasi-isotropic cases.