Active Damage Diagnosis Using PZT

Abstract

A structural health monitoring (SHM) system for the purpose of maintenance cost reduction or performance guarantee of the civil and the building structures were studied. To make the smart structure, development of an active sensing diagnostic technique is needed to predict the location of structure damage during maintenance with a limited number of PZT elements. As PZT elements are inexpensive, small in size, and function as a sensor and actuator, it is possible to integrate them with a structural component without reducing structural performance and also it is suitable for realizing active damage detection on-line.