Structural Health Monitoring Using Electrical Transfer Admittance Between Multiple Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators

Abstract

   A piezoelectric impedance-based structural health monitoring technique, which enables us to monitor structural integrity in-service and on-line, was developed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Its experimental implementation has been successfully conducted on several complex structures to detect incipient-type damage such as small cracks or loose connections. However, there are still some problems to be solved before full-scale development and commercialization can take place. One of the most crucial problems is that the sensing area is small. In order to extend the sensing area, a new technique using electrical transfer admittance has been developed. The validity of the technique has been verified by proof-of-concept experiments.