Evaluation of 3D-Printed PLA Couplers for Efficient Circumferential Ultrasonic Guided Wave Excitation on Composite Pipes
پذیرفته شده برای ارائه شفاهی
کد مقاله : 1117-ISAV2025 (R3)
نویسندگان
1دانشکده مهندسی مکانیک و انرژی، دانشگاه شهید بهشتی
2استادیار، دانشکده مهندسی مکانیک و انرژِی، دانشگاه شهید بهشتی
چکیده
This study investigates the feasibility and performance of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) couplers for generating and receiving circumferential ultrasonic guided waves (CUGWs) in glass-reinforced vinylester (GRV) composite pipes. The experimental system employs PLA couplers in conjunction with a water couplant, ensuring stable and repeatable acoustic coupling. The longitudinal wave velocity of the 3D-printed PLA was characterized to enable ac-curate delay compensation, and the propagation of guided waves in the composite pipe was analyzed at multiple circumferential positions and frequencies (120, 200, and 400 kHz). The results show that the dominant modes exhibit low dispersion, making them particularly suitable for inspection purposes. Mode separation analysis allows determination of group velocities for individual modes, highlighting the influence of fiber orientation on wave propagation. The study demonstrates that PLA-based couplers provide a low-cost, flexible, and customizable solution for generating and optimizing guided-wave modes, and can be tailored for various pipe geometries and inspection requirements. The findings highlight the potential of additive-manufactured polymeric couplers for advanced non-destructive evaluation of composite pip-ing systems.
کلیدواژه ها
Title
Evaluation of 3D-Printed PLA Couplers for Efficient Circumferential Ultrasonic Guided Wave Excitation on Composite Pipes
Authors
Narges Abdolifard, Mohammadhossein Soorgee
Abstract
This study investigates the feasibility and performance of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) couplers for generating and receiving circumferential ultrasonic guided waves (CUGWs) in glass-reinforced vinylester (GRV) composite pipes. The experimental system employs PLA couplers in conjunction with a water couplant, ensuring stable and repeatable acoustic coupling. The longitudinal wave velocity of the 3D-printed PLA was characterized to enable ac-curate delay compensation, and the propagation of guided waves in the composite pipe was analyzed at multiple circumferential positions and frequencies (120, 200, and 400 kHz). The results show that the dominant modes exhibit low dispersion, making them particularly suitable for inspection purposes. Mode separation analysis allows determination of group velocities for individual modes, highlighting the influence of fiber orientation on wave propagation. The study demonstrates that PLA-based couplers provide a low-cost, flexible, and customizable solution for generating and optimizing guided-wave modes, and can be tailored for various pipe geometries and inspection requirements. The findings highlight the potential of additive-manufactured polymeric couplers for advanced non-destructive evaluation of composite pip-ing systems.
Keywords
Circumferential guided waves, PLA coupler, composite pipes, ultrasonic testing, mode optimization