Numerical investigation on EMI signatures in pipes with varied damage levels

Abstract

Piezoelectric transducers have become very effective in damage detection of many important structures. Smart pipes surface bonded with piezoelectric sensors are efficient in damage detection in the form of corrosion. Damaged pipes exhibit changes in its stiffness and damping characteristics which ultimately gives changes in its Electro-Mechanical Admittance signatures. In the present study smart pipe with varied corrosion lengths along the circumference are considered. The corrosion width and depth are varied for all the peripheral damage lengths and the effect on EMI signatures is studied. Based on the conductance signatures of the healthy and damaged pipes damage indices (Root Mean Square Deviation-RMSD) are computed. It is concluded that greater RMSD values indicate the larger extent of the damage. In the present study circumferential damage of length, 0.03π showed more than 4% RMSD values in the case of 0.004 mm depth of corrosion when compared to the other cases considered.