Abstract
Structures in service are often subjected to fatigue loads. Cracks would develop and lead tofailure if left unnoticed after a large number of cyclic loadings. Monitoring the process offatigue crack propagation as well as estimating the remaining useful life of a structure isthus essential to prevent catastrophe while minimizing earlier-than-required replacement.The advent of smart materials such as piezo-impedance transducers (lead zirconatetitanate, PZT) has ushered in a new era of structural health monitoring (SHM) based onnon-destructive evaluation (NDE).This paper presents a series of investigative studies to evaluate the feasibility of fatiguecrack monitoring and estimation of remaining useful life using the electromechanicalimpedance (EMI) technique employing a PZT transducer. Experimental tests wereconducted to study the ability of the EMI technique in monitoring fatigue crack in 1Dlab-sized aluminum beams. The experimental results prove that the EMI technique is verysensitive to fatigue crack propagation. A proof-of-concept semi-analytical damage model forfatigue life estimation has been developed by incorporating the linear elastic fracturemechanics (LEFM) theory into the finite element (FE) model. The prediction of the modelmatches closely with the experiment, suggesting the possibility of replacing costlyexperiments in future.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
