Microcrack modeling and simulation for nonlinear wave modulation

We present a technique for microcrack modeling in the finite element framework, and numerically investigate the occurrence of nonlinear wave modulation. Typically, fatigue cracks are initiated and developed when structures are exposed to repeated loading; the crack widths of the fatigue cracks are extremely small in the early development stage. As the fatigue cracks grow by combining and coalescing, the overall size increases. Enlarged cracks undermine the safety of the structure. Therefore, fatigue crack detection is very important to ensure the integrity of structures. Although the nonlinear ultrasonic wave modulation technique has been widely used due to its high detecting sensitivity, the basic principle is not fully understood. To reveal the mechanism of nonlinear wave modulation, the movements of the crack surfaces are calculated through numerical simulation. The shape of the crack surface can determine the intensity of the wave modulation. In this study, we investigate the variation of the crack widths due to fatigue failure using microscopic imaging of real fatigue cracks, and use these images to create realistic models of the fatigue cracks.