Abstract
The work presented in this thesis concerns the problem of detecting and characterising the effect of fibre-matrix debonds in a fibre-reinforced composite, on ultrasonic backscattering. Theoretical and experimental investigations were conducted into this problem. Three mathematical models were examined. The first assumed that the debond was a thin crack with non-contacting faces surrounding the fibre. The second modelled the debond by allowing tangential slip between the matrix and fibre defined by an effective shear modulus, K. For the third model, the debond was approximated by a thin visco-elastic layer separating the matrix and fibre. The results of the modelling suggested that for an incident longitudinal wave, the first model acts as an air-filled void with a sharp resonance present in the low ka region. The second and third models both show the backscattering to be attenuated. Experimental investigations were carried out on scale models of a single fibre embedded in an araldite matrix. Steel or copper wires were used for the reinforcing fibre. The agreement between theory and experiment for a well-bonded wire was excellent. The effect on the longitudinal backscattered wave of the wire immediately after debonding was to attenuate heavily the resonances in the backscatter form function. However, after approximately an hour the scatter is seen to relax, closely resembling that from a well-bonded wire. In view of the only partial ability of longitudinal incident waves to detect debonds, shear wave (SH) incidence was investigated. It was shown that shear waves were far more sensitive to the presence of fibre-matrix debonds.