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Physics-based computational models play a key role in the study of wave propagation for structural health monitoring (SHM) and the development of improved damage detection methodologies. Due to the complex nature of guided waves, accurate and efficient computation tools are necessary to investigate the mechanisms responsible for dispersion, coupling, and interaction with damage. In this paper, a fully coupled electromechanical elastodynamic model for wave propagation in a heterogeneous, anisotropic material system is developed. The final framework provides the full three dimensional displacement and electrical potential fields for arbitrary plate and transducer geometries and excitation waveform and frequency. The model is validated theoretically and proven computationally efficient. Studies are performed with surface bonded piezoelectric sensors to gain insight into the physics of experimental techniques used for SHM. Collocated actuation of the fundamental Lamb wave modes is modeled over a range of frequencies to demonstrate mode tuning capabilities. The displacement of the sensing surface is compared to the piezoelectric sensor electric potential to investigate the relationship between plate displacement and sensor voltage output. Since many studies, including the ones investigated in this paper, are difficult to perform experimentally, the developed model provides a valuable tool for the improvement of SHM techniques.

Recent alloy developments have produced a new generation of Al-Li alloys that provide not only weight savings, but also many property benefits such as excellent corrosion resistance, good spectrum fatigue crack growth performance, a good strength and toughness combination and compatibility with standard manufacturing techniques. The forging of such alloys would lead to mechanical properties that closely match the aircraft engine requirements including lower weight, improved performance and a longer life. As a result, detailed analyses need to be performed to determine which material properties are best suited for a specific structure and how to achieve the required mechanical and damage tolerant properties during material processing. We developed an integrated physics-based model for prediction of microstructure evolution and material property prediction of third-generation Al-Li alloys. In order to develop such a model, an elastic-plastic crystal plasticity model is developed and incorporated in finite element software (ANSYS). The model accounts for microstructural evolution during non-isothermal, non-homogeneous deformation and is coupled with the damage kinetics. Our model bridges the gap between dislocation dynamics and continuum mechanics scales. Model parameters have been calibrated against lab tests including micropillar in-situ simple compression tests of Al-Li alloy 2070. Numerical predictions are verified against the lab results including stress-strain curves and crystallographic texture evolution.

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