Active Ultrasonic Structural Health Monitoring Enabled by Piezoelectric Direct-Write Transducers and Edge Computing Process

Wong, Voon‐Kean; Rabeek, S. Mohamed; Lai, Szu Cheng; Philibert, Marilyne; Lim, David Boon Kiang; Chen, Shuting; Raja, M. Kumarasamy; Yao, Kui

doi:10.3390/s22155724

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…These low-profile, lightweight and highly conformable piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers are known as direct-write ultrasonic transducers and have been demonstrated to be efficient for SHM, such as for detecting the presence of various defects and plastic deformation [22,23]. By combining the scalable direct-write ultrasonic transducer technology, an active ultrasonic SHM system with edge computing capability, and the methods proposed in this work, it will be possible to realize a scalable quantitative crack size monitoring over a large area [24][25][26].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Crack Monitoring by Rayleigh Waves with a Piezoelectric-Polymer-Film Ultrasonic Transducer Array

Wong

Yousry

et al. 2023

Sensors

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This paper presents a method for measuring surface cracks based on the analysis of Rayleigh waves in the frequency domain. The Rayleigh waves were detected by a Rayleigh wave receiver array made of a piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film and enhanced by a delay-and-sum algorithm. This method employs the determined reflection factors of Rayleigh waves scattered at a surface fatigue crack to calculate the crack depth. In the frequency domain, the inverse scattering problem is solved by comparing the reflection factor of the Rayleigh waves between the measured and the theoretical curves. The experimental measurement results quantitatively matched the simulated surface crack depths. The advantages of using the low-profile Rayleigh wave receiver array made of a PVDF film for detecting the incident and reflected Rayleigh waves were analyzed in contrast with those of a Rayleigh wave receiver using a laser vibrometer and a conventional lead zirconate titanate (PZT) array. It was found that the Rayleigh waves propagating across the Rayleigh wave receiver array made of the PVDF film had a lower attenuation rate of 0.15 dB/mm compared to that of 0.30 dB/mm of the PZT array. Multiple Rayleigh wave receiver arrays made of the PVDF film were applied for monitoring surface fatigue crack initiation and propagation at welded joints under cyclic mechanical loading. Cracks with a depth range of 0.36–0.94 mm were successfully monitored.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface Crack Monitoring by Rayleigh Waves with a Piezoelectric-Polymer-Film Ultrasonic Transducer Array

Wong

Yousry

et al. 2023

Sensors

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“…In previous studies, we reported the application of direct-write piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers (DWTs) for fatigue crack monitoring of aluminum alloy plates [ 6 ], defect detection in aluminum plates [ 7 , 8 ], plastic strain monitoring of aluminum alloy plates [ 9 ], SHM of steel pipes [ 10 , 11 ], and defect detection in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer plates [ 12 ]. These DWTs are made of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] that can be fabricated in situ on the desired structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Robustness and Resilience of Direct-Write Ultrasonic Transducers Made from P(VDF-TrFE) Piezoelectric Coating

Wong

Lim

Subhodayam

et al. 2023

Sensors

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Conformability, lightweight, consistency and low cost due to batch fabrication in situ on host structures are the attractive advantages of ultrasonic transducers made of piezoelectric polymer coatings for structural health monitoring (SHM). However, knowledge about the environmental impacts of piezoelectric polymer ultrasonic transducers is lacking, limiting their widespread use for SHM in industries. The purpose of this work is to evaluate whether direct-write transducers (DWTs) fabricated from piezoelectric polymer coatings can withstand various natural environmental impacts. The ultrasonic signals of the DWTs and properties of the piezoelectric polymer coatings fabricated in situ on the test coupons were evaluated during and after exposure to various environmental conditions, including high and low temperatures, icing, rain, humidity, and the salt fog test. Our experimental results and analyses showed that it is promising for the DWTs made of piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) polymer coating with an appropriate protective layer to pass various operational conditions according to US standards.

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“…Structural health monitoring (SHM) is the process of sensing, collecting, and analyzing data from a structure on a regular basis to determine its condition over time [2,3,4]. Nowadays, SHM is being used in various applications such as bridges [5], pipes [6], aircraft [7], and marine structures [8] as a non-intrusive monitoring technique to facilitate condition-based preventive maintenance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward Smart Composites for Structural Health Monitoring via Highly Sensitive Capacitive Wireless Sensors

Lubineau,

Mahmoud,

Nesser

2023

10th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Smart Structures and Materials

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Embedded sensors are one of the most effective and accurate methods for monitoring large structures. Composite structures such as pipelines, tanks, aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles confront some challenges with embedding strain sensing systems incorporating strain gauges or optical fibers that can introduce delamination, cracking, and structural failure of the host in addition to the need for dedicated and expensive equipment. RFID sensing technology has been used to enable wireless data and power transmission while addressing issues related to host/composite material integrity and high sensing sensitivity. A flexible sensor based on LC circuit has been developed where the capacitance is acting as a sensing unit. Nanocracks have been introduced into parallel electrodes to create an intense piezoresistivity effect. That leads to a transmission line behavior of the capacitive component. This unconventional change in the capacitance of the LC oscillator allows a large shift in resonance frequency of the flexible circuit, producing a sensitive wireless strain sensor with a Gauge factor of 50 for less than 1% strain. An external read-out coil has been used to read the shifting in resonance frequency due to applied strain. The sensor has been integrated with composite materials to detect the small strain that occurred due to structural degradation. The experimental results show the ability of our cracked wireless strain sensor to detect small strain signals through the composites structure with high accuracy. The developed sensor is intended to be a part of a wireless sensor network (WSN) for monitoring large composites structures.

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Active Ultrasonic Structural Health Monitoring Enabled by Piezoelectric Direct-Write Transducers and Edge Computing Process

Cited by 6 publications

References 49 publications

Surface Crack Monitoring by Rayleigh Waves with a Piezoelectric-Polymer-Film Ultrasonic Transducer Array

Surface Crack Monitoring by Rayleigh Waves with a Piezoelectric-Polymer-Film Ultrasonic Transducer Array

Environmental Robustness and Resilience of Direct-Write Ultrasonic Transducers Made from P(VDF-TrFE) Piezoelectric Coating

Toward Smart Composites for Structural Health Monitoring via Highly Sensitive Capacitive Wireless Sensors

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