Intelligent non-destructive technique for crack existence inspection in a structure using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)

Abstract

Increasing cost of erection and maintenance of modern structures becomes need new method of crack investigations before catastrophic failure is happened. A proposed technique for non-destructive inspection of crack in a structure is presented using standard Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The vibration properties, natural frequencies and mode shapes, of the structure are included in the non-destructive proposed technique. The new technique of crack inspection is verified in a steel clamped beam structural model. The crack position and size are considered and two cases of crack scenarios are adopted in this study. The crack is presented in the FE model as a reduction in the stiffness of specified elements. The dynamic analysis of the FE model is implemented using ANSYS-APDL software. The proposed technique includes a subroutine created by high technical level language in MATLAB software. This new technique exhibits robust and satisfactory performance of inspection the position and size of crack in the adopted structural model.