NUMERICAL MODELING OF ULTRASONIC WAVE-PROPAGATION USING THE EFFICIENTP-VERSION FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD

In this paper, the new p-version of the finite element method has been used for the numerical modelling of ultrasonic wave propagation in so lid media. The p-method involves increasing the polynomial order of th e interpolation functions to achieve convergence. This is unlike the c onventional h-version in which the number of elements is increased to achieve the same goal. Illustrative examples of wave propagation throu gh an isotropic aluminium block, including a case with a built-in defe ct in the form of a crack, have been discussed. Also, a convergence cr iterion has been developed for dynamic problems. The potential to exte nd this model to other applications such as medical ultrasonics or to a more complex anisotropic medium is significant.