Damage Detection in Composite Materials by Flexural Dynamic Excitation and Accelerometer-Based Acquisition

Abstract Composite materials provide many advantages over more conventional materials. However, their susceptibility to impact damage can question use in critical load-bearing structures, and efficient methods are needed for early detection. To this purpose, the nonlinear vibro-acoustic modulation (VAM) technique applies a low-frequency pump excitation high-frequency probe exploit onset of harmonic components around frequency damaged structural response. The VAM has been widely studied on structures instrumented with piezoceramic transducers used both actuation sensing, but few attempts have made equipment typical modal testing, such as shakers accelerometers. In study, is applied composite laminate beam by employing an electro-dynamic shaker generate flexural excitation, low-profile transducer introduce wave, micro-accelerometer sense Three resonance low frequencies two acoustic considered different testing scenarios, at increasing levels amplitude. results show general good performance adopted experimental setup, choice higher level having significant its sensitivity.