• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.217-240
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• 2013

In this paper, practical methods to utilize PZT's dual piezoelectric effects (i.e., dynamic strain and electro-mechanical (E/M) impedance responses) for damage detection in beam-type structures are presented. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, PZT material's dual piezoelectric characteristics on dynamic strain and E/M impedance are investigated. Secondly, global vibration-based and local impedance-based methods to detect the occurrence and the location of damage are presented. Finally, the vibration-based and impedance-based damage detection methods using the dual piezoelectric responses are evaluated from experiments on a lab-scaled beam for several damage scenarios. Damage detection results from using PZT sensor are compared with those obtained from using accelerometer and electric strain gauge.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.373-380
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• 2004

This paper presents the feasibility of an impedance-based damage detection technique using piezoelectric (PZT) transducers for civil infrastructures such as steel bridges. The impedance-based damage detection method is based on monitoring the changes in the electrical impedance. Those changes in the electrical impedance are due to the electro-mechanical coupling property of the piezoelectric material and structure. An effective integrated structural health monitoring system must include a statistical process of damage detection that is automated and real time assessment of damage in the structure. Once measured, damage sensitive features from this impedance change can be statistically quantified for various damage cases. The results of the experimental study on three kinds of structural members show that cracks or loosened bolts/nuts near the PZT sensors may be effectively detected by monitoring the shifts of the resonant frequencies. The root mean square (RMS) deviations of impedance functions between before and after damages were also considered as a damage indicator. The subsequent statistical methods using the impedance signature of the PZT sensors were investigated.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.237-253
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• 2017

Among various structural health monitoring technologies, impedance-based damage detection has been recognized as a promising tool for diagnosing critical members of civil structures. Since the piezoelectric transducers used in the impedance-based technique should be bonded to the surface of the structure using bonding layers (e.g., epoxy layer), it is hard to maintain the as-built condition of the bonding layers and to reconfigure the devices if needed. This study presents an experimental investigation by using magnetically attached PZT-interface for the impedance-based damage detection in bolted girder connections. Firstly, the principle of the impedance-based damage detection via the PZT-interface device is outlined. Secondly, a PZT-interface attachment method in which permanent magnets are used to replace the conventional bonding layers is proposed. Finally, the use of the magnetic attraction for the PZT-interface is experimentally evaluated via detecting the bolt-loosening events in a bolted girder connection. Also, the sensitivity of impedance signatures obtained from the PZT-interface is analyzed with regard to the interface's material.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.501-523
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• 2016

Electromechanical impedance (EMI) based structural health monitoring is performed by measuring the variation in the impedance due to the structural local damage. The impedance signals are acquired from the piezoelectric patches that are bonded on the structural surface. The impedance variation, which is directly related to the mechanical properties of the structure, indicates the presence of local structural damage. Two traditional EMI-based damage detection methods are based on calculating the difference between the measured impedance signals in the frequency domain from the baseline and the current structures. In this paper, a new structural damage detection approach by analyzing the time domain impedance responses is proposed. The measured time domain responses from the piezoelectric transducers will be used for analysis. With the use of the Time Frequency Autoregressive Moving Average (TFARMA) model, a damage index based on Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is defined to identify the existence of the structural local damage. Experimental studies on a space steel truss bridge model in the laboratory are conducted to verify the proposed approach. Four piezoelectric transducers are attached at different locations and excited by a sweep-frequency signal. The impedance responses at different locations are analyzed with TFARMA model to investigate the effectiveness and performance of the proposed approach. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach is very sensitive and robust in detecting the bolt damage in the gusset plates of steel truss bridges.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.221-235
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• 2022

Among nondestructive damage detection methods, impedance-based methods have been recognized as an effective technique for damage identification in many kinds of structures. This paper proposes a method to detect cracks in metal structures by combining electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) responses and artificial neural networks (ANN). Firstly, the theories of EMI responses and impedance-based damage detection methods are described. Secondly, the reliability of numerical simulations for impedance responses is demonstrated by comparing to pre-published results for an aluminum beam. Thirdly, the proposed method is used to detect cracks in the beam. The RMSD (root mean square deviation) index is used to alarm the occurrence of the cracks, and the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) ANN is employed to identify the location and size of the cracks. The selection of the effective frequency range is also investigated. The analysis results reveal that the proposed method accurately detects the cracks' occurrence, location, and size in metal structures.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.385-403
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• 2017

In recent years, the wind energy has played an increasingly important role in national energy sector of many countries. To harvest more electric power, the wind turbine (WT) tower structure becomes physically larger, which may cause more risks during long-term operation. Associated with the great development of WT projects, the number of accidents related to large-scaled WT has also been increased. Therefore, a structural health monitoring (SHM) system for WT structures is needed to ensure their safety and serviceability during operational time. The objective of this study is to develop a hybrid damage detection method for WT tower structures by measuring vibration and impedance responses. To achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, a hybrid damage detection scheme which combines vibration-based and impedance-based methods is proposed as a sequential process in three stages. Secondly, a series of vibration and impedance tests are conducted on a lab-scaled model of the WT structure in which a set of bolt-loosening cases is simulated for the segmental joints. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed hybrid damage detection method is experimentally evaluated via its performance during the damage detection process in the tested model.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.184-187
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• 2005

Physical changes in a structural system may cause changes in mechanical impedance of the system. Due to the electro-mechanical coupling effect in piezoelectric materials, this change can be monitoring by the electrical impedance of the piezoelectric sensor. In this paper, the variability of electro-mechanical impedance caused by temperature effect is assessed to adjust impedance data used for EMI based damage detection in beams. First experiments on beams are described. Next, experiments were performed under the temperature varying condition, in the range of $3^{\circ}C\;to\;23^{\circ}C$. Finally, the relationship between temperatures and impedance signatures is analyzed empirically temperature-frequency patten for the test structure.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.339-356
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• 2014

This study has been motivated to evaluate the practicality of numerical simulation of impedance monitoring for damage detection in steel column connection. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, the theory of electro-mechanical (E/M) impedance responses and impedance-based damage monitoring method are outlined. Secondly, the feasibility of numerical simulation of impedance monitoring is verified for several pre-published experimental examples on steel beams, cracked aluminum beams, and aluminum round plates. Undamaged and damaged steel and aluminum beams are simulated to compare to experimental impedance responses. An aluminum round plate with PZT patch in center is simulated to investigate sensitive range of impedance responses. Finally, numerical simulation of the impedance-based damage monitoring is performed for a steel column connection in which connection bolts are damaged. From the numerical simulation test, the applicability of the impedance-based monitoring to the target steel column connection can be evaluated.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.301-329
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• 2017

Impedance-based damage detection method has been known as an innovative tool with various successful implementations for structural health monitoring of civil structures. To monitor the local critical area of a structure, the impedance-based method utilizes the high-frequency impedance responses sensed by piezoelectric sensors as the local dynamic features. In this paper, current advances and future challenges of the impedance-based structural health monitoring are presented. Firstly, theoretical background of the impedance-based method is outlined. Next, an overview is given to recent advances in the wireless impedance sensor nodes, the interfacial impedance sensing devices, and the temperature-effect compensation algorithms. Various research works on these topics are reviewed to share up-to-date information on research activities and implementations of the impedance-based technique. Finally, future research challenges of the technique are discussed including the applicability of wireless sensing technology, the predetermination of effective frequency bands, the sensing region of impedance responses, the robust compensation of noise and temperature effects, the quantification of damage severity, and long-term durability of sensors.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.5
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• pp.563-583
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• 2021

Composite materials, composed of multiple constituent materials with dissimilar properties, are actively adopted in a wide range of industrial sectors due to their remarkable strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratio. Nevertheless, the failure mechanism of composite materials is highly complicated due to their sophisticated microstructure, making it much harder to predict their residual material lives in real life applications. A promising solution for this safety issue is structural damage detection. In the present paper, damage detection of composite material via electrical resistance-based technique and infrared thermography is reviewed. The operating principles of the two damage detection methodologies are introduced, and some research advances of each techniques are covered. The advancement of IR thermography-based non-destructive technique (NDT) including optical thermography, laser thermography and eddy current thermography will be reported, as well as the electrical impedance tomography (EIT) which is a technology increasingly drawing attentions in the field of electrical resistance-based damage detection. A brief comparison of the two methodologies based on each of their strengths and limitations is carried out, and a recent research update regarding the coupling of the two techniques for improved damage detection in composite materials will be discussed.