Abstract
One of the ideas for development of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems is based on excitation of elastic waves by a network of PZT piezoelectric transducers integrated with the structure. In the paper, a variant of the so-called Transfer Impedance (TI) approach to SHM is followed. Signal characteristics, called the Damage Indices (DIs), were proposed for data presentation and analysis. The idea underlying the definition of DIs was to maintain most of the information carried by the voltage induced on PZT sensors by elastic waves. In particular, the DIs proposed in the paper should be sensitive to all types of damage which can influence the amplitude or the phase of the voltage induced on the sensor. Properties of the proposed DIs were investigated experimentally using a GFRP composite panel equipped with PZT networks attached to its surface and embedded into its internal structure. Repeatability and stability of DI indications under controlled conditions were verified in tests. Also, some performance indicators for surface-attached and structure-embedded sensors were obtained. The DIs’ behavior was dependent mostly on the presence of a simulated damage in the structure. Anisotropy of mechanical properties of the specimen, geometrical properties of PZT network as well as, to some extent, the technology of sensor integration with the structure were irrelevant for damage indication. This property enables the method to be used for damage detection and classification.
Highlights
Application of elastic waves is one of the most universal approach to non-destructive testing of materials [1]
Elastic waves can interact with damages of different types [8], they can propagate over long distances from their source, e.g., a PZT actuator
Distributions of Damage Indices (DIs) obtained for the presence of simulated damage are presented in Figures 11–13 below
Summary
Application of elastic waves is one of the most universal approach to non-destructive testing of materials [1]. For excitation and detection of elastic waves, materials which exhibit piezoelectric properties need to be used [2]. Applied as elastic waves actuators and sensors are transducers based on lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) ceramics, i.e., PZT transducers [3,4]. Sparse networks of PZT transducers can be used for monitoring relatively large structures, independently of the material used for manufacturing the structure. Due to those properties, PZT transducers have found a variety of applications in SHM
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