Experimental and theoretical characterization of acoustic emission transients in composite laminates

Transient wave propagation resulting from transverse matrix cracking in cross-ply composite tensile test specimens are investigated both theoretically and experimentally. In the experiments, broad-band transducers and a fast data-acquisition system enable measurements of transients in a frequency interval up to 1 MHz. The theoretical predictions are based on a model which utilizes a finite-element discretization of the cross-section of the specimen and a Fourier representation of the axial and time dependence. The comparisons between experimental and theoretical results are encouraging. Weak points in the experimental technique and in the theoretical model are identified. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.