Dynamic cooperative identification based on synergetics for pipe structural health monitoring with piezoceramic transducers

Abstract

The monitoring of structural integrity for pipes is one potential structural health monitoring (SHM) application using piezoelectric sensor networks. A dynamic cooperative identification method (DCIM) for pipe SHM with lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is proposed based on synergetics in this paper. A cooperative identification model with a cooperation–competition–update process was developed and its cooperative identification kinetic equation was established. With the governing principle, the order parameter equation and its potential function were acquired. On the basis of the synergetic effect principle, the adjoint vector was obtained from the regional vectors. By using the self-organization principle, the evolution of each order parameter was obtained through strict mathematical ratiocination. By implementing the iterative update principle, an online structural condition update feature was realized. Subsequently, the assessment indices were confirmed. Finally, the performance of the proposed methodology for damage identification for a pipe structural model with various connector damage scenarios created by loosening connectors was investigated. The experiments were conducted in a noisy environment, a disturbance rich environment, and a noisy and disturbance rich environment, separately. The results show that the proposed methodology can identify the healthy condition and various damage conditions within an acceptable monitoring range for metal pipes. Furthermore, the DCIM demonstrates a strong ability to reject disturbances and noise in SHM applications. This proposed approach provides an alternative way to carry out damage and fault identification for pipe engineering structures.