Time delay controlled annular array transducers for omnidirectional guided wave mode control in plate like structures

Guided waves in plate like structures offer several modes with unique characteristics that can be taken advantage for nondestructive inspection applications. Conditions relating to the structure under inspection like the surrounding media, liquid loading, coatings etc require the use of special modes for successful inspection. Therefore, transducers that can excite mode controlled guided waves are essential for defect detection and discrimination in structures. Array transducers with annular elements can generate omnidirectional guided waves in plate like structures. However, the wave modes excited are limited to a particular wavelength governed by the element spacing. This limitation on the annular array transducers can be overcome by controlling the phase at each element relative to one another. In this work, annular array transducer construction techniques are theoretically examined and the optimum phase delays between the annular elements to excite a desired guided wave mode are calculated. A five element comb type annular array transducer is fabricated utilizing 1-3 type piezocomposite material. The mode control capability of the transducer is experimentally verified by selectively exciting the A₀and S₀guided wave modes in an aluminum plate like structure.