Equivalent elastic modulus measurement of cross-ply composite plates using Lamb waves.

• The tensile and shear elastic moduli of the plates can be estimated using the S 0 and A 0 modes. • The phase velocity of the S 0 mode depends only on the equivalent tensile elastic modulus and in-plane Poisson's ratio, whereas the phase velocity of the A 0 mode depends almost only on the equivalent shear elastic modulus. • The in-plane Poisson's ratio of cross-ply laminates changes sufficiently small to neglect its effect on the phase velocities of the S 0 mode. This paper proposes a simple and effective Lamb wave-based measurement method for the elastic moduli of cross-ply composite plates, considered equivalent to a single-layer orthotropic plate with nine independent elastic constants. The effects of theses constants on the phase velocities of the fundamental S 0 and A 0 modes are investigated. The phase velocity of the S 0 mode depends only on the equivalent tensile elastic modulus and in-plane Poisson's ratio in the low-dispersive frequency-thickness product regime, whereas the phase velocity of the A 0 mode depends almost only on the equivalent shear elastic modulus. Moreover, the in-plane Poisson's ratio of cross-ply laminates changes sufficiently small to neglect its effect on the phase velocities of the S 0 mode. Therefore, the tensile and shear elastic moduli of the plates can be estimated using the S 0 and A 0 modes, and the mapping relations between the phase velocities of these modes and the elastic moduli are established. The proposed approach has been numerically and experimentally tested on cross-ply carbon fiber reinforced laminates, and validated by theoretical values and conventional tensile tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]