Structural Mechanical Impedance Research Articles

Monitoring of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Single-Lap Joint with Electromechanical Impedance of Piezoelectric Transducer.

The single-lap joint of fiber-reinforced composites is a common structure in the field of structure repair, which has excellent mechanical properties. To study and monitor its quasi-static response behavior under external load, two methodologies called effective structural mechanical impedance (ESMI) and reduced-ESMI (R-ESMI) are presented in this article. A two-dimensional electromechanical impedance (EMI) model for a surface-bonded square piezoelectric transducer (PZT) is adopted to extract more sensitive signatures from the measured raw signatures. There are two major advantages of the monitoring scheme based on ESMI and R-ESMI signatures: (1) excellent monitoring results with less signatures to process, (2) the ability to monitor the quasi-static behavior of a single-lap joint with previously ignored susceptance signatures. Combining the extracted ESMI signatures with the index of root-mean-square deviation, the quasi-static behavior of single-lap joints can be effectively quantified. To test the effectiveness of ESMI methodology, verifying experiments were conducted. The experimental results convincingly demonstrated that the presented ESMI and R-ESMI methodologies have good feasibility in monitoring the quasi-static behavior of a fiber-reinforced composite single-lap joint. The proposed method has potential application in the field of structural health monitoring (SHM).

A novel electromechanical impedance model for surface-bonded circular piezoelectric transducer

The electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique is one of common used methods for damage diagnosis. However, the mechanism of EMI-based damage diagnosing is usually complicated and difficult to be comprehensively described. To solve this problem to a certain extent, a novel EMI model for describing the interaction between piezoelectric transducer (PZT) and host structure is developed in this paper. The developed EMI model has advantages of simplicity in formula and excellent precision in signatures prediction. An efficaciously equivalent SMD (Spring-Mass-Damping) system is adopted to obtain the local structural mechanical impedance (LSMI) and to calculate the equivalent parameters ( ) in the vicinity of PZT. To verify the effectiveness of the novel model, a series of experiments are separately conducted on the specimen under healthy condition and damage condition. Through comparing the predicted curves with the experimental ones, the effectiveness of the developed model is demonstrated when used for predicting signatures, especially for resistance signatures. The developed EMI model has shown the potential application in the field of structural health monitoring and damage diagnosis.

Mechanical impedance based embedded piezoelectric transducer for reinforced concrete structural impact damage detection: A comparative study

Electromechanical admittance (inverse of impedance) based nondestructive evaluation method has been extensively applied to damage detection and health monitoring of engineering structures. This paper proposed an innovative method of using the effective structural mechanical impedance (ESMI) to detect reinforced concrete (RC) structural damages. ESMI based method was first formulated based on a generic two-dimensional model for embedded piezoelectric (PZT) transducer interacting with a host structure. And structural mechanical impedance (SMI) based method using a typical one-dimensional PZT-structure interaction model was also briefly introduced. Validation of the proposed method was investigated in an experiment of testing a RC beam structure with different levels of impact damages, in which raw admittance signatures measured from three embedded PZT transducers were used for extracting ESMI and SMI signatures. Sensitivity of ESMI, SMI and admittance signatures was then qualitatively compared in detecting RC beam structural damages. Additionally, these three signatures based damage quantification was also conducted using two-types of statistical root mean square deviation (RMSD) indices. Results demonstrated that the ESMI signature exhibits well performance in detecting the RC beam structural impact damage. The proposed method provides a promising alternative for precise prediction of RC structural damage especially when the PZT transducers embedded inside structures.

Mechanical impedance-based technique for steel structural corrosion damage detection

The electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique has gained acceptance for structural health monitoring, due to its merits of model-free, high frequency detection and fast response features. This paper presents an innovative mechanical impedance-based technique to monitor the development of corrosion damage on steel structure, which is different from the traditional admittance (inverse of impedance)-based EMI technique. Firstly, structural mechanical impedance (SMI) which directly manifests the structural properties is theoretically deprived. Secondly, by measuring the raw admittance signature, the sensitivity of SMI is investigated in the experiment of steel structural corrosion damage conducted within 117days. Finally, the corrosion damage quantification is also discussed by calculating the root mean square deviation (RMSD) index. The results indicate that structural mechanical impedance is sensitive to corrosion damage but the detecting range is limited. The real part of SMI can be adopted for an effective indicator of steel structural corrosion damage. The proposed technique is found to be effective in steel structural corrosion damage detection.

A Three-Dimensional Model of the Effective Electromechanical Impedance for an Embedded PZT Transducer

A three-dimensional model of the effective electromechanical impedance for an embedded PZT transducer is proposed by considering the interaction between a PZT patch and a host structure. By introducing an effective mechanical impedance, the coupled electromechanical admittance formulations are derived using the piezoelectric constitutive equations. Then, a modified methodology for monitoring structure changes using an electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique is proposed. In the proposed method, the changes in the host structure are monitored by using the “active” part associated with the structural mechanical impedance, which is extracted from the measured raw admittance signatures. The strength gain of a concrete beam with embedded PZT transducers during the curing age was monitored with the proposed methodology. The experimental results demonstrate that the use of the “active” part is more sensitive as opposed to the raw admittance signatures for structural health monitoring (SHM).

The first tarsometatarsal joint and its association with hallux valgus

IntroductionThe aetiology of hallux valgus is almost certainly multifactoral. The biomechanics of the first ray is a common factor to most. There is very little literature examining the anatomy of the proximal metatarsal articular surface and its relationship to hallux valgus deformity.MethodsWe examined 42 feet from 23 specimens in this anatomical dissection study.ResultsThis analysis revealed three distinct articular subtypes. Type 1 had one single facet, type 2 had two distinct articular facets, and type 3 had three articular facets one of which was a lateral inferior facet elevated from the first. Type 1 joints occurred exclusively in the hallux valgus specimens, while type 3 joints occurred exclusively in normal specimens. Type 2 joints occurred in both hallux valgus and normal specimens. Another consistent finding in regards to the proximal articular surface of the first metatarsal was the lateral plantar prominence. This prominence possessed its own articular surface in type 3 joints and was significantly flatter in specimens with hallux valgus (p < 0.001) and the angle with the joint was significantly more obtuse (p < 0.001).ConclusionsWe believe the size and acute angle of this prominence gives structural mechanical impedance to movement at the tarsometatarsal joint and thus improves the stability.

A Modified Electro-Mechanical Impedance Model for Dynamic Analysis of PZT Sensor Coupled with Beam Structure

In this paper, the exact solutions of PZT coupled electric impedance and structure mechanical impedance were derived with the investigation of the dynamic interaction between the PZT and the host structure. In the frequency range of 0.1-120 kHz, numerical simulation of the PZT coupled electric impedance was performed using MATLAB code. Experimental investigations were conducted with a PZT excitation and electric impedance measurement system developed by our laboratory in the frequency ranges of 30-55 kHz and 80-100 kHz. The profile and resonant frequencies of predicted and measured impedance frequency spectra were in close agreement and the largest deviation is 0.402%.

Monitoring Beam-Column Joint in Concrete Structures Using Piezo-Impedance Sensors

Despite that piezoelectric ceramic lead zirconate titanate (PZT) has been used for structural health monitoring (SHM) in various engineering systems, limited work has been conducted on real size concrete structures. Beam-column connections are critical regions in reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frame structures. The vulnerability of RC beam-column joints has been identified from structural damage investigations over the past decades, especially in the area of earthquake engineering. In the context of a terrorist bomb attack, the beam-column joints are very vulnerable, especially when the perimeter columns lose their load carrying capacity due to damage and the beam-column joints become one of the crucial load transfer mechanism of the structural frame. To avoid catastrophic failures, it is important to monitor beam-column joints under existing gravitational loads. In this paper, an experiment is carried out on four real size concrete frame structures with different detailing subjected to gradually increased loads. A number of PZT sensors are bonded to the frame structure to acquire PZT electro-mechanical (EM) admittance signature. The structural mechanical impedance (SMI) is extracted from the PZT EM admittance signature and its sensitivity is compared with that of the EM admittance. The relations between the damage index and the loading step and tip deflection of the concrete structure are obtained. Finally the sensitivity of the PZT sensors in detection of the critical loading level is discussed. The results show that the PZT sensors are capable of monitoring the integrity and behavior of the real size concrete structures.

Sensitivity of PZT Impedance Sensors for Damage Detection of Concrete Structures.

Piezoelectric ceramic Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) based electro-mechanicalimpedance (EMI) technique for structural health monitoring (SHM) has been successfullyapplied to various engineering systems. However, fundamental research work on thesensitivity of the PZT impedance sensors for damage detection is still in need. In thetraditional EMI method, the PZT electro-mechanical (EM) admittance (inverse of theimpedance) is used as damage indicator, which is difficult to specify the effect of damage onstructural properties. This paper uses the structural mechanical impedance (SMI) extractedfrom the PZT EM admittance signature as the damage indicator. A comparison study on thesensitivity of the EM admittance and the structural mechanical impedance to the damages ina concrete structure is conducted. Results show that the SMI is more sensitive to the damagethan the EM admittance thus a better indicator for damage detection. Furthermore, this paperproposes a dynamic system consisting of a number of single-degree-of-freedom elementswith mass, spring and damper components to model the SMI. A genetic algorithm isemployed to search for the optimal value of the unknown parameters in the dynamic system.An experiment is carried out on a two-storey concrete frame subjected to base vibrations thatsimulate earthquake. A number of PZT sensors are regularly arrayed and bonded to the framestructure to acquire PZT EM admittance signatures. The relationship between the damageindex and the distance of the PZT sensor from the damage is studied. Consequently, thesensitivity of the PZT sensors is discussed and their sensing region in concrete is derived.

Monitoring of Growing Fatigue Damage Using the E/M Impedance Method

The electro-mechanical (E/M) impedance-based method is one important and effective method in damage detection. The basic concept of the impedance method is to monitor the variations in the structural mechanical impedance spectrum caused by damage in the structure. Comparing the impedance spectrum to a baseline measurement of the undamaged structure, the real part of the E/M impedance reflects the state of structural health in the local area, therefore, the structural damage can be localized, a local-area self-sensing method is implemented. In this paper, an aluminium plate mounted on an electromagnetic shaker is used to detect growing fatigue damage using the impedance method. The growing damage is documented by an increase of the indicators. For the case of a static artificial damage the concept is also demonstrated to an Airbus A320 fuselage part using 9 self-sensing elements on the stringers.

Research impedance control method as cellular structures

This paper presents the analytical investigation of honeycomb structure mechanical impedance. The mathematical model for analysing influence feature of defects, object parameters and condition of excitation on results of control was developed. Also was analysed the amplitude and phase mode of impedance method.

Integrated Structural Health Assessment Using Piezoelectric Active Sensors

This paper illustrates an integrated approach for identifying structural damage. The method presented utilizes piezoelectric (PZT) materials to actuate/sense the dynamic response of the structures. Two damage identification techniques are integrated in this study, including impedance methods and Lamb wave propagations. The impedance method monitors the variations in structural mechanical impedance, which is coupled with the electrical impedance of the PZT patch. In Lamb wave propagations, one PZT patch acting as an actuator launches an elastic wave through the structure, and responses are measured by an array of PZT sensors. The changes in both wave attenuation and reflection are used to detect and locate the damage. Both the Lamb wave and impedance methods operate in high frequency ranges at which there are measurable changes in structural responses even for incipient damage such as small cracks, debonding, or loose connections. The combination of the local impedance method with the wave propagation based approach allows a better characterization of the system’s structural integrity. The paper concludes with experimental results to demonstrate the feasibility of this integrated active sensing technology.

Detecting Damage in Graphite/Epoxy Composites Using Impedance-Based Structural Health Monitoring

The impedance-based structural health monitoring method is used to successfully detect different damage mechanisms in composites and to correlate the changes in impedance measurements with the changes in the structure. Specifically, graphite/epoxy composite samples are manufactured and tested. Piezoceramic (PZT) patches are attached to the composite coupons to actuate the structure with high-frequency excitations. Bonding the patches to the sample allows changes in the structural mechanical impedance to be monitored with the electrical impedance of the PZT. Samples are tested using quasi-static tensile loading to introduce damage. To determine the extent of damage incurred, impedance signatures are acquired before and after the tensile load is applied. A change in impedance from the baseline shows the presence of damage. The amount of damage is characterized using a damage metric. Radiography is used to verify the extent of damage.

Structural impedance based damage diagnosis by piezo‐transducers

AbstractAlthough structural mechanical impedance is a direct representation of the structural parameters, its measurement is difficult at high frequencies owing to practical considerations. This paper presents a new method of damage diagnosis by means of changes in the structural mechanical impedance at high frequencies. The mechanical impedance is extracted from the electro‐mechanical admittance signatures of piezoelectric‐ceramic (PZT) patches surface bonded to the structure using the electro‐mechanical impedance (EMI) technique. The main feature of the newly developed approach is that both the real as well as the imaginary component of the admittance signature is used in damage quantification. A complex damage metric is proposed to quantify damage parametrically based on the extracted structural parameters, i.e. the equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) stiffness, the mass, and the damping associated with the drive point of the PZT patch. The proposed scheme eliminates the need for any a priori information about the phenomenological nature of the structure or any ‘model’ of the structural system. As proof of concept, the paper reports a damage diagnosis study conducted on a model reinforced concrete (RC) frame subjected to base vibrations on a shaking table. The proposed methodology was found to perform better than the existing damage quantification approaches, i.e. the low‐frequency vibration methods as well as the traditional raw‐signature based damage quantification in the EMI technique. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

A Modified Electro-Mechanical Impedance Model of Piezoelectric Actuator-Sensors for Debonding Detection of Composite Patches

A modified electro-mechanical impedance model of piezoelectric actuator-sensors is presented in this study. The presented model treats the bonding layer between a piezoelectric patch and a host structure as a spring-mass-damper system in the coupled electro-mechanical analysis. The effect of bonding layers on the dynamic interaction between piezoelectric actuator-sensors and host structures is thus taken into account. The model is then used for debonding detection of composite patches. A debonding model is accordingly developed. The debonding model uses infinitesimal-length springs to model the joint between a composite patch and its base structure. The spring stiffness varies with the joint rigidity and directly influences the structural mechanical impedance as well as the piezoelectric electric admittance. A numerical example is provided to reveal the effect of bonding layers and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed detection method.

An Integrated Health Monitoring Technique Using Structural Impedance Sensors

This paper presents an integrated methodology to detect and locate structural damage. Two different damage detection schemes are combined in this methodology, which involves utilizing the electromechanical coupling property of piezoelectric materials and tracking the changes in the frequency response function data, respectively. Physical changes in the structure cause changes in mechanical impedance. Due to the electromechanical coupling in piezoelectric materials, this change in structural mechanical impedance causes a change in the electrical impedance of the piezoelectric sensor. Hence, by monitoring the electrical impedance one can qualitatively determine when structural damage has occurred or is imminent. Based on the fact that damage produces local dynamic changes, this technique utilizes a high frequency structural excitation (typically greater than 30 kHz) through the surface-bonded piezoelectric sensor/actuators. As a second step, a newly developed model-based technique, using a wave propagation approach, has been used to quantitatively assess the state of structures. Direct frequency response function data, as opposed to modal data, are utilized to characterize the damage in the structures. A numerical example and an experimental investigation of one-dimensional structures are presented to illustrate the performance of this technique.

Qualitative impedance-based health monitoring of civil infrastructures

This paper presents a qualitative health monitoring technique to be used in real-time damage evaluation of civil infrastructures such as bridge joints. The basic principle of the technique is to monitor the structural mechanical impedance which will be changed by the presence of structural damage. The mechanical impedance variations are monitored by measuring the electrical impedance of a bonded piezoelectric actuator/sensor patch. This mechanical-electrical impedance relation is due to the electromechanical coupling property of piezoelectric materials. This health monitoring technique can be easily adapted to existing structures, since only a small PZT patch is needed, giving the structure the ability to constantly monitor its own structural integrity. This impedance-based method operates at high frequencies (above 50 kHz), which enables it to detect incipient-type damage and is not confused by normal operating conditions, vibrations, changes in the structure or changes in the host external body. This health monitoring technique has been applied successfully to a variety of light structures. However, the usefulness of the technique for massive structures needs to be verified experimentally. For this purpose, a 500 lb quarter-scale deck truss bridge joint was built and used in this experimental investigation. The localized sensing area is still observed, but the impedance variations due to incipient damage are slightly different. Nevertheless, by converting the impedance measurements into a scalar damage index, the real-time implementation of the impedance-based technique has been proven feasible.

On the characterization of piezoelectric actuators attached to structures

Basic material properties, such as the piezoelectric constant, Young's modulus, electro-mechanical coupling factor and dielectric constant etc, are often applied to describe the quality of piezoelectric materials. For piezoelectric actuators attached to structures in practical applications, more straightforward parameters like actuating force, mechanical power output, conversion efficiency between electric and mechanical energy are also imperative to characterize applicability and efficiency of the actuators. They are particularly discussed in this paper. It is found that the parameters are not only relevant to the basic piezoelectric material properties and the structural mechanical impedance, but also dependent on the configuration of the piezoelectric actuators and the initial dynamic states of actuated structures as well. It is indicated that the configuration requires attention to be paid in the design of piezoelectric actuators. It may essentially change the parameters, and thus alter the actuator applicability and efficiency.