Defect Detection in Plate-like Structures using Piezoceramic Frequency Steerable Acoustic Transducers

Guided Waves (GWs)-based defect detection in plate-like structures using piezoelectric transducers (PZT) has become a critical and reliable method for ensuring structural integrity. To address the challenges of heavy, complex, and difficult-to-maintain PZT networks, Frequency Steerable Acoustic Transducers (FSATs) have been proposed as a promising alternative. FSATs can simplify hardware while reducing costs by employing a frequency-dependent spatial filtering effect that allows for beam steering through excitation frequency variation. The new generation of FSATs also eliminates the 180° ambiguity issue that previous FSATs have experienced and enables 360° circular scanning for defect detection. Thanks to this unique feature of FSATs, when employed within a pulse-echo method, the captured signal exclusively displays reflections originating from the areas of damage. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a numerical investigation on the new generation of FSATs for defect detection in plate structures.