Abstract

The Lamb wave-based damage imaging technique offers a novel approach for structural health monitoring. However, enhancing the accuracy of damage detection continues to pose a significant challenge. To improve the precision and reliability of defect detection and localisation in composite plates, this paper introduces and investigates the Empirical Mode Decomposition-based Adaptive Time Reversal Method (EMD-ATRM). This method integrates adaptive Tukey window inverse filtering with a data-driven advanced technique, empirical mode decomposition, to effectively mitigate noise and accurately extract the primary modes. Moreover, the enhanced time reversal method is coupled with the Improved Reconstruction Algorithm for Probabilistic Inspection of Damage (IRAPID) to achieve precise computation of damage index values and efficient execution of time-reversed imaging. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared to traditional Time Reversal Method (TRM), EMD-ATRM exhibits superior defect localisation accuracy, clearer damage images, a reduced false alarm rate, and enhanced capability in identifying damage paths and regions. This study not only provides innovative methods and tools for the structural health monitoring of composite materials but also highlights the potential applications of EMD-ATRM in industrial settings, guiding future research directions.