Abstract
During the last decades, structural health monitoring (SHM) systems are used in order to detect damage in structures. We have developed a novel structural health monitoring approach, the so-called “effective structural health monitoring” (eSHM) system. The current SHM system is incorporated into a metallic structure by means of additive manufacturing (AM) and has the possibility to advance life safety and reduce direct operative costs. It operates based on a network of capillaries that are integrated into an AM structure. The internal pressure of the capillaries is continuously monitored by a pressure sensor. When a crack nucleates and reaches the capillary, the internal pressure changes signifying the existence of the flaw. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the crack detection capacity of the eSHM system and crack location accuracy by means of various non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. During this study, detailed acoustic emission (AE) analysis was applied in AM materials for the first time in order to investigate if phenomena like the Kaiser effect and waveform parameters used in conventional metals can offer valuable insight into the damage accumulation of the AM structure as well. Liquid penetrant inspection, eddy current and radiography were also used in order to confirm the fatigue damage and indicate the damage location on un-notched four-point bending AM metallic specimens with an integrated eSHM system. It is shown that the eSHM system in combination with NDT can provide correct information on the damage condition of additive manufactured metals.
Highlights
Optical inspection and a large number of non-destructive evaluation techniques can be inspiring for the development of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems
After the crack was detected by means of pressure change in the effective structural health monitoring” (eSHM) system, the specimens were removed from the testing machine and subjected to LPI
The damaged metallic samples that were used for this study with the integrated eSHM system were inspected by a combination of techniques, namely Liquid penetrant (LP), eddy current (EC), radiography and acoustic emission (AE)
Summary
Optical inspection and a large number of non-destructive evaluation techniques can be inspiring for the development of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems. Various SHM systems have been investigated in order to detect damage, which is a local phenomenon, by measuring the total response of a structure with the main research focus on damage identification in components [1]. Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) [4]. As stated by Speckmann et al [5], SHM is an alternative approach of NDI for the inspection of the structural integrity of aircrafts and can be a major part of the prospective intelligent structures. SHM systems of the second and third generation will be used in order to obtain a novel approach to structural design that relies on lightweight structures. The SHM system should be an embedded part of a structure
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