Flexible PVDE comb transducers for excitation of axisymmetric guided waves in pipe

Flexible PVDF pipe comb transducers are easy to install by wrapping around any size pipe. It is possible to mechanically couple these transducers to the pipe thereby eliminating the need to bond electrodes to the film and couple the transducer to the pipe. The simple fabrication process, installation, and affordability of these transducers makes them realistic candidates for condition based monitoring of some critical pipeline applications. These transducers are capable of exciting lower order axisymmetric modes with minimal radial displacement and maximum axial displacement as well as modes with both surface displacement components. This versatility is extremely important since under certain loading conditions modes with significant radial displacement are almost completely attenuated.