<title>Overview of optimal sensor location methods for damage detection</title>

Abstract

Recent years have shown considerable progress on the problem of determining the optimal type, number and location of sensors in engineering structures. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of different methodologies which can be used to position integrated sensors for structural damage detection. The focus is on combinatorial optimization, neural network and information theory. A simple example which illustrates the ideas is presented. This involves piezoceramic sensor location for impact damage detection in composite structures. Although, the example presented in the paper is related to piezoceramic sensors and damage detection, the methods shown are generic and can be used to solve any sensor/actuator location problem in smart structures.