Prediction of stress waves propagation in progressively loaded seven wire strands

High tensile strength steel strands are widespread load carrying structural components in civil structures. Due to their critical role, several researchers have investigated nondestructive techniques to assess the presence of damage such as corrosion or the change in prestress level (prestress loss). Ultrasonic Guided Waves are known to be an effective approach for defect detection in components with waveguide geometry such as strands. However, Guided Wave propagation (dispersion properties) in steel strands is fairly complex partially due to the strand helical geometry and the influence of axial prestress. For instance, the strand axial stress generates a proportional radial stress between adjacent wires (interwire stress) that is responsible for inter-wire coupling effects. While experimental and numerical investigations have attempted to study and predict wave propagation in axially loaded strands, the propagation phenomenon is not yet fully understood. The present paper intends to improve the knowledge of dispersion properties in progressively loaded seven wire strands accounting for helical geometry and inter-wire contact forces. Full three dimensional Finite Element simulations as well as Semi-Analytical Models will be used to predict the dispersion curves in strands as a function of the axial stress.