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• A semi-analytic method to explain the interaction between lamb waves and bolt joint. • The power transmission coefficients change periodically with contact area. • The first S0 wave packet in the received signal is used to monitor bolt torque. • The semi-analytic method is helpful for frequency selection in bolt monitoring. Bolt joints are extensively used in aerospace and civil engineering. Online monitoring of bolt looseness is crucial to ensure the function and safety of these structures. Understanding the interaction between guided waves and the joint interfaces can aid in the design and optimization of such monitoring systems, and hence becomes important. However, the influence of contact area on guided wave energy passing through these jointed plates is still not clear. In this paper, a semi-analytic method, which combines finite element models with a wave superposition method, is proposed to predict the transmission of guided waves in joint interfaces. The wave mode conversions in the contact area are included. The model was validated by comparison with independent finite element models. In addition, the influence of the contact length on transmission coefficients of guided waves passing through the joint interface is investigated. The results were experimentally validated by wire electrical discharge machined specimens with various contact areas. Then, the transmitted guided wave and the contact area in a bolt jointed plate under different torques were measured experimentally and compared with the present method. The results of the two different experiments agree well with those predicted using the semi-analytic method, respectively. In particular, the experimental results of the bolt jointed plate show that the direct S0 wave packet energy decreases with the bolt preload, which can be explained by the proposed model. Thus, the proposed semi-analytic method demonstrates efficiency in the prediction of the power transmission coefficient and has potential applications in the selection of excitation frequencies in the online monitoring of jointed structures. On this basis, a normalized power transmission coefficient can be directly calculated by the energy of the first S0 wave packet in the received signal to monitor bolt torque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Order Modes Cluster (HOMC) guided waves are non-dispersive wave packets consisting of higher order Lamb wave modes. This paper investigates the effect of frequency and dominant mode(s) of an HOMC guided wave on its sensitivity to plate defects. The propagation of HOMC guided waves in a 10-mm thick mild steel plate is simulated by two-dimensional finite element model. The level of contribution of Lamb wave modes to the wave cluster is analyzed by using a two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform (2D FFT) at various frequency-thickness products ranging from 15 to 35 MHz-mm. The normal stress profiles of the HOMC guided waves are plotted and used to show the changes in normal stress as a function of frequency-thickness product. The HOMC guided waves interactions with notches of 5%, 10%, 30% and 50% depths relative to the plate thickness are examined at various frequency-thickness products ranging from 15 to 35 MHz-mm. It is observed that the reflected energy from these notches decreases with increase in frequency-thickness product. Experimental measurements are also conducted on a similar plate. The experimental results are in line with simulations and confirm the changes observed in the reflection coefficient of notches at different frequency-thickness products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]