Longitudinal wave propagation. Part II - Analysis of crack influence

The aim of this paper is to introduce new spectral finite elements for damage detection in cracked rods. The four new spectral elements are based on the elementary, Love, Mindlin-Herrmann, and three-mode theories of rods. For all the models the crack is substituted by means of a dimensionless spring. Numerical examples show the influence of a fatigue, non-propagating, open crack on wave propagation in rods. For the models analysed differences in behaviour of the longitudinal waves are observed. The differences between signals reflected from the crack in the proposed models are functions of the excitation signal frequency. (c) 2006 Flsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.