Moment-tensor inversion and decomposition for cracks in thin plates

The knowledge of crack type and dislocation orientation is helpful for the lifetime prediction of thin plates on aircrafts. The moment-tensor inversion utilizes the Acoustic Emission (AE) signals to detect cracks and the source mechanisms can be interpreted by the decomposition of moment tensors. Since the traditional moment-tensor inversion is implemented for the AE sources inside infinite elastic bodies, the inversion needs to be modified for the cracks in thin plates. In this study, the moment tensors of cracks in thin plates are derived and the inversion equation is provided based on the Green's function of second kind. A method of modifying the moment tensors to adapt to the existing decomposition processes and source-type plots is provided. By employing the Finite Element Method (FEM), the wave fields generated by the AE sources are computed. The AE sources continuously changing from pure tensile type (Model I) to shear type (Model II) are achieved in the FE models and the moment tensors are recovered. By the comparison between the reference values and recovered solutions, the source type can be accurately identified in the source-type plot and the applicability of the moment-tensor inversion for cracks in thin plates is confirmed.