NESB Nondestructive Evaluaton Sciences Branch

Physics Based Modeling of Wave Propagation

NESB is currently developing advanced physics-based ultrasound models and simulation tools for aerospace materials, including composites. The goal of this area of research is rapid, 3-dimensional (3D) simulation tools for modeling ultrasonic wave behavior in complex geometry advanced material aerospace components, including wave interaction with realistic damage. Of-interest damage types include delaminations, microcracking, and weak adhesive bonds.

Realistic physics-based models and simulation tools can enhance the optimization of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques. Such tools can also enable inspectability predictions and methods for SHM system validation. Simulations can also be used to aid the understanding of experimental results.

These capabilities are essential for NASA's future spaceflight missions, particularly long duration human spaceflight missions, where vehicle health monitoring will be of key importance to mission success. NDE and SHM simulation tools are also of key importance for NASA's aeronautics work towards ensuring safety, reliability, and durability of next generation vehicles.

Wave interaction with a thinned region in aluminum.
Wave interaction with microcracks in an aerospace composite material.

Select Publications:

Juarez, P., and Leckey, C. "Multi-frequency Local Wavenumber Analysis and Ply Correlation of Delamination Damage." Ultrasonics, doi:10.1016/j.ultras.2015.05.001 (2015)

Leckey, C., and Seebo, J. "Guided wave energy trapping with multilayer delamination damage". Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol 34 (1650), pp. 1162–1169 (2015)

Leckey, C., Rogge, M. and Parker, R. "Guided waves in anisotropic and quasi-isotropic aerospace composites: Three-dimensional simulation and experiment". Ultrasonics, Vol 54, pp 385-394 (2014)

Mesnil, O., Leckey, C., and Ruzzene, M. "Instantaneous and local wavenumber estimations for damage quantification in composites". Structural Health Monitoring, doi:10.1177/1475921714560073 (2014)

Tian, Z., Lingyu Y., and Leckey, C. "Delamination detection and quantification on laminated composite structures with Lamb waves and wavenumber analysis." Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures doi: 10.1177/1045389X14557506 (2014)

Rogge, M. and Leckey, C. "Characterization of impact damage in composite laminates using guided wavefield imaging and local wavenumber domain analysis". Ultrasonics, Vol 53, pp 1217-1226 (2013)

Yu, L., Leckey, C. and Tian, Z. "A study on crack scattering in aluminum plates using Lamb wave frequency-wavenumber analysis". Smart Materials and Structures, Vol 22, 65019 (2013)

Yu, L. and Leckey, C. "Lamb wave based quantitative crack detection using a focusing array algorithm". Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, Vol 24, pp 1138- 1152 (2013)

Leckey, C., Rogge, M. and Parker, R. "Microcracking in composite laminates: Simulation of crack-induced ultrasound attenuation". Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol 32, pp 947-954 (2013)

Leckey, C., Rogge, M., Miller, C., and Hinders, M. "Multiple-mode Lamb Wave Scattering using 3D Elastodynamic Finite Integration Technique". Ultrasonics, Vol 52, pp 193-207 (2012)