Ultrasonic verification of five wave fronts in unidirectional graphite epoxy composite

The existence of five different waves fronts in a unidirectional graphite fiber reinforced epoxy composite with energy flux propagation at the angle of 60 deg with respect to the fiber direction is verified by measuring their corresponding group and phase velocities of longitudinal and shear waves using the through transmission technique. The experimental and theoretical values of phase velocities show excellent agreement for all three modes of wave propagation. It is also verified that the maximum output voltage amplitude is obtained when the line joining the centers of the transmitting and receiving transducers is parallel to the energy propagation direction defined by the deviation angle.