Abstract
Piezoelectric transducers have been extensively used in various applications in recent decades, such as in the non-destructive testing (NDT) of materials and structures. A piezoelectric transducer commonly used in NDT applications is lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic, which is thin, lightweight, and minimally invasive to the structure. In this study, we analyzed the use of commercial piezoelectric diaphragms for damage detection based on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) method, which is an NDT technique used in structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. The commercial diaphragms have the advantages of being low cost and readily available. To assess their feasibility for damage detection, a low-cost diaphragm was compared with a conventional PZT ceramic with similar shape and dimensions. Tests were performed on aluminum beams, in which damage was simulated by placing a metallic bolt at different distances from the transducers. The sensitivity to damage was estimated using the correlation coefficient deviation (CCD) damage index, which was calculated using the electrical impedance signatures obtained from each transducer. The experimental results indicate that the piezoelectric diaphragms are able to detect damage; therefore, this study provides an important contribution to the field of SHM systems based on the EMI method.
Highlights
Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are able to monitor the health of various types of structures, detecting damage at an early stage
In this paper, we present an initial study of commercial piezoelectric diaphragms, commonly known as buzzers, for damage detection based on the electromechanical impedance (EMI) principle
The EMI method is known for its simplicity and its use of low-cost and lightweight piezoelectric transducers, allowing for multiple transducers to be installed in the structure, enabling a vast area to be monitored without significantly changing the characteristics of the host structure
Summary
Structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are able to monitor the health of various types of structures, detecting damage at an early stage. One of the most promising NDT methods for damage detection in SHM systems is the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique. The EMI technique has a simple methodology and uses small and lightweight piezoelectric transducers that do not significantly alter the mechanical properties of the monitored structure. The principle of the EMI method is based on the piezoelectric effect, which provides electromechanical coupling between the transducer and the monitored structure, thereby allowing for evaluation of the mechanical condition of the structure from the transducer electrical properties [3]. The type of piezoelectric transducer most commonly used in the EMI method is based on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics. In this paper, we present an initial study of commercial piezoelectric diaphragms, commonly known as buzzers, for damage detection based on the EMI principle. The background of the EMI method and the piezoelectric transducers used in this study are presented
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