The potential of ultrasonic non-destructive measurement of residual stresses by modal frequency spacing using leaky lamb waves

This paper investigates the potential of ultrasonic non-destructive measurements of residual stresses using the modal frequency spacing method based on the interference spectrum of leaky Lamb waves as an alternative to the commonly used flight-time approach in ultrasonic methods. Extensive experiments were carried out to verify the viability and robustness of the technique using an instrumented leaky Lamb wave setup with uniaxial stressed samples and welded steel samples. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, multiple sets of raw signals of specularly reflected and leaky Lamb waves were acquired and then averaged in the time domain. The acquired data in the time domain were then transformed into the frequency domain to form the interference spectrum of leaky Lamb waves with a good repeatability. The acoustoelastic coefficient of carbon steel is then derived from the measured relationship of wave velocity
and applied stress. Finally, a welded steel plate was examined and residual stress was evaluated. The current work demonstrates the feasibility and the potential of the proposed method in measuring residual stresses in welded plates and thin-walled structures.