Comparative study on orthotropic solid waves by time-domain BEM and dynamic photoelasticity

Experimental research and numerical analysis are two basic tools in the stu dy of wave propagation problems in orthotropic media. In this paper, an exp erimental method, namely dynamic orthotropic photoelasticity, which studies the dynamic behavior of orthotropic materials on a macroscopic scale by em ploying orthotropic birefringent materials, is established. Meanwhile, a nu merical method, namely time domain boundary element method (BEM) for wave p ropagation in orthotropic media, is also presented. The two methods are use d together in the analysis of semi-infinite orthotropic plates with and wit hout a circular hole modeled by a unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite under impact loading. The propagation, reflection and diffraction of stres s waves in the orthotropic media are recorded experimentally and investigat ed. Time histories of birefringent fringe orders or stresses for specific p oints of the plates are obtained, respectively, from the two methods and co mpared with each other. The comparative study demonstrates the applicabilit y and accuracy of the two methods for wave propagation problems in orthotro pic media. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.