Structural health monitoring using piezoelectric materials

Abstract

Damage identification of a structure is absolutely essential in the prevention of disasters or even catastrophes. To effectively predict possible failure in a structure, the use of smart piezoceramics, or otherwise known as Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT), have been commonly used on the study of a structure’s behavior. The electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) technique is a commonly used technique, and will be further developed upon in this study. Experiments were progressively carried out, by introducing damages, in the form of holes, along the longitudinal axis of the aluminum specimen in question. The conductance function was then obtained via the use of an impedance analyzer. The study was carried out in 3 main steps namely, carrying out of the experiment, experimental results analysis and finally modal analysis of the results.

Analysis of the experimental results involved the observations in changes and variations of the peaks from the admittance at different levels of damage, as well as a statistical method, commonly referred to as the root mean square deviation (RMSD). Modal analysis on the other hand, involved the use of modeling software known as Ansys 14. The software was used to predict the natural frequencies of the specimen. The results in turn, were compared against the experimental results to check for coherency as well as the accuracy of the experiment. Last but not least, future recommendations were made for future students who may expound the results for greater purposes.