Search results for "Structural health"
showing 10 items of 52 documents
Application of dual boundary element method in active sensing
2013
In this paper, a boundary element method (BEM) for the dynamic analysis of 3D solid structures with bonded piezoelectric transducers is presented. The host structure is modelled with BEM and the piezoelectric transducers are formulated using a 3D semi-analytical finite element approach. The elastodynamic analysis of the entire structure is carried out in Laplace domain and the response in time domain is obtained by inverse Laplace transform. The BEM is validated against established finite element method (FEM).
Global-Local model for guided wave scattering problems with application to defect characterization in built-up composite structures
2020
Abstract Predicting scattering of elastic guided waves in multi-layered solid plates with geometrical and/or material discontinuities is of great interest to many fields, including ultrasonic-based Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and health monitoring of critical structural components (SHM). The problem is complicated by the multimode and dispersive behaviour of the guided waves. This paper describes a unified Global-Local (GL) approach that is computationally efficient in cases that can be very complex in terms of geometry and/or material properties. One example of this is a composite built-up structure. The proposed GL procedure discretizes the “local” region with the scattering discontinui…
Artificial neural network comparison for a SHM procedure applied to composite structures.
2013
In this paper different architectures of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for structural damage detection are studied. The main objective is to create an ANN able to detect and localize damage without any prior knowledge on its characteristics so as to serve as a realtime data processor for SHM systems. Two different architectures are studied: the standard feed-forward Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) and the Radial Basis Function (RBF) ANNs. The training data are given, in terms of a Damage Index ℑD, properly defined using the piezoelectric sensor signal output to obtain suitable information on the damage position and dimensions. The electromechanical response of the assembled structure has b…
Vibration Tests and Structural Identification of the Bell Tower of Palermo Cathedral
2019
Background: The recent seismic events in Italy have underlined once more the need for seismic prevention for historic constructions of architectural interest and in general, the building heritage. During the above-mentioned earthquakes, different masonry monumental buildings have been lost due to the intrinsic vulnerability and ageing that reduced the structural member strength. This has made the community understand more that prevention is a necessary choice for the protection of monuments. Objective: The paper aims at demonstrating a strategy of investigation providing the possibility of health judgment, identifying a computational model for the assessment of structural capacity under se…
Passive RFID Strain-Sensor Based on Meander-Line Antennas
2011
The processing of backscattered signals coming from RFID tags is potentially useful to detect the physical state of the tagged object. It is here shown how to design a completely passive UHF RFID sensor for strain monitoring starting from a flexible meander-line dipole whose shape factor and feed section are engineered to achieve the desired sensing resolution and dynamic range. This class of devices is low-cost, promises sub-millimeter resolution and may found interesting applications in the Structural Health Monitoring of damaged structures and vehicles as well as during extreme and adverse events.
MEMS-Based System for Structural Health Monitoring and Earthquake Observation in Sicily
2021
The implementation of systems for Structural Health Monitoring and Earthquake Observation is increasing in the last years owing to the development of new technologies which enable low-cost and small-size devices to be installed in large-scale or high-density applications. This paper introduces the implementation of monitoring systems, either for structural health assessment and earthquake observation. The applications are based in Sicily (Italy), a region characterized by a high seismic hazard and where the buildings are often old and vulnerable. The system relies on a MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) sensor, a 3-axial accelerometer which has been specifically selected in order to en…
BEM analysis of a piezoelectric structural health monitoring system for delamination detection
2013
In the present work a piezoelectric based structural health monitoring (SHM) system is analyzed with the aim of assessing the ability of the piezoelectric patch to detect both edge and embedded delaminations proper of flange-skin composite laminated structures. he boundary element model is developed for piezoelectric solids and is implemented by taking advantage of the multidomain technique to model laminated and cracked configurations. A non-linear spring model interface is then implemented in conjunction with an iterative procedure allowing for the simulation of the finite stiffness of the bonding layers as well as of the non-penetration condition of the delamination surfaces. he dynamic …
Autonomous ultrasonic inspection using Bayesian optimisation and robust outlier analysis
2020
The use of robotics is beginning to play a key role in automating the data collection process in Non Destructive Testing (NDT). Increasing the use of automation quickly leads to the gathering of large quantities of data, which makes it inefficient, perhaps even infeasible, for a human to parse the information contained in them. This paper presents a solution to this problem by making the process of NDT data acquisition an autonomous one as opposed to an automatic one. In order to achieve this, the robotic data acquisition task is treated as an optimisation problem, where one seeks to find locations with the highest indication of damage. The resulting algorithm combines damage detection tech…
Systematic comparison of Artificial Neural Networks for a SHM procedure applied to Composite Structure
2014
The problems related to damage detection represents a primary concern, particularly in the framework of composite structure. In fact, for this kind of structures barely visible damage can occur. Moreover, one of the major in-service damage of composite aircraft strcutures is represented by disbonds between the stiffeners and the skin undergoing dynamic or post-buckling loads. The effective implementation of a SHM system relies on the synthesis of non-destructive technique (NDT), fracture mechanics, sensors technology, data manipulation and signal processing, and it can receive a great improvement through the use of an Artificial Neural Networks. Different architectures of Artificial Neural …
On the use of the EMI for the health monitoring of bonded elements
2014
The low weight, robustness and fatigue resistance of adhesive joints make them suitable for structural joints. A fully developed nondestructive evaluation technique however is needed to monitor and assess the quality of bonded joints. In the present paper the application of the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique is proposed. In the EMI method a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) is attached to the structure of interest. The high sensitivity and low power consumption make the EMI method feasible for real time structural health monitoring. In this study we investigated the sensitivity of the electromechanical response of a PZT to the curing and the quality of the adhesive used for bonded…