Dispersion Calculator: An open source software for the calculation of dispersion curves and mode shapes of guided waves

The MATLAB-based Dispersion Calculator (DC) is an interactive software for the calculation of dispersion curves and mode shapes of guided waves in plane, isotropic and multilayer, anisotropic laminates. The DC is continuously improved and validated using DISPERSE. The DC was first published in 2018. Today it is used worldwide.

Features:

• Dispersion diagrams for flat, isotropic plates and multilayer, anisotropic laminates: Phase velocity, energy velocity, transit time, incident angle, wavelength, wavenumber and attenuation vs frequency
• Immersion in fluids (fluid-loading)
• Viscoelasticity (material attenuation)
• Polar dispersion diagrams: Phase velocity, energy velocity, transit time, incidence angle, wavelength and wavenumber vs propagation direction
• Different material symmetry classes can be combined in a laminate: Isotropic, cubic, transverse isotropic, orthotropic
• Simulated signal: time and frequency response of single or multiple Lamb waves after travelling a certain time in a slab/laminate, out-of-plane and in-plane signal
• Through-thickness mode shape: distortion, stress, strain, energy density and power flux density
• 2D animation of mode shape
• Through-thickness bulk wave patternBulk wave propagation in solid material: 2D and 3D phase velocity, group velocity, slowness, polarisation and energy deflection
• Scattering of bulk waves at the interface between fluids and solids: 2D and 3D representation; reflected and transmitted energy scattering coefficients vs angle of incidence
• Homogenised stiffness tensor of multilayer, anisotropic laminates
• Material editor: Input of real and complex engineering constants and stiffness tensor components
• Export of graphics
• Export of dispersion curve and mode shape data as Excel, Txt and MATLAB files

Special Features:

• The DC can calculate laminates with several hundred layers, so that even the thickest laminates are covered
• The DC can distinguish the different mode families, such as symmetric, antisymmetric and asymmetric Lamb, horizontal shear and Scholte waves
• Multiple years of continuous revision enable fast and robust tracing of dispersion curves

Download and use the DC: