Complex-shaped composite components have been extensively utilized in the aerospace industry. This paper investigates the feasibility of using ultrasonic feature guided waves (FGW) for rapid screening of two representative long-range composite structures

i.e. laminated bends and adhesive composite joints. Such FGWs are capable of focusing the propagation energy along the structural feature

with limited leakage into the adjacent plate. They also exhibit littledispersive and low-attenuative characteristics. Modal studies of the anisotropic viscoelastic waveguide were carried out via the semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) method to reveal the existing FGW modes. Both 3D finite element (FE) simulations and experiments were performed to cross-validate the modal properties of identified FGW modes and to study their interaction with different defects occurring in the structural feature

such as interlaminar delamination

cracks

and adhesive debonding. The wave-defect resonance phenomenon and the reflection behaviour were investigated for localizing these defects. The potential of proposed FGW-based approach for efficient damage detection in complex-shaped composite components is well demonstrated.