Sensing Region Characteristics of Smart Piezoelectric Interface for Damage Monitoring in Plate-Like Structures

Abstract

For impedance-based damage detection practices, the sensing range of piezoelectric devices is an important parameter that should be determined before real implementations. This study presents numerical and experimental analyses for characterizing the sensing region of a smart PZT (lead–zirconate–titanate) interface for damage monitoring in plate-like structures. First, a finite element (FE) model of the PZT interface mounted on a plate structure is established. The impedance responses of the PZT interface are numerically simulated under different damage locations inflicted in the plate domain. The impedance features are extracted from the impedance signatures to analyze the sensing distance and the damage detectability of the PZT interface. Next, the splice plate of a bolted connection is selected as a practical plate-like structure for the experimental examination of the PZT interface’s sensing region on a limited plate domain. The damage sensitivity behavior of the PZT interface is analyzed with respect to the damage location on the splice plate. An FE analysis of the corresponding PZT interface-splice plate system is also conducted to support the experimental results.

Sensor Fault Diagnosis for Impedance Monitoring Using a Piezoelectric-Based Smart Interface Technique

“…To detect structural damage, the measured impedance Sensors 2020, 20, 510 2 of 20 signature is statistically compared with the signature of the undamaged state by using statistical damage metrics [10][11][12]. However, the direct attachment of the PZT often leads to weak EM impedance responses and further results in difficulties in predetermining effective frequency bands for damage detection tasks [13][14][15]. To overcome these issues, the piezoelectric-based smart interface technique (i.e., the PZT interface) has been developed as an alternative measurement for the PZT sensor [5,[16][17][18].…”

Monitoring of Epoxy-Grouted Bonding Strength Development between an Anchored Steel Bar and Concrete Using PZT-Enabled Active Sensing

“…Furthermore, because of its strong piezoelectric effect [40,41] and wide bandwidth [42,43,44], Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) is one of the most commonly used piezoceramic materials, and is frequently utilized for stress wave generation [45,46,47,48] and detection [49,50,51]. Stress waves are often used in structural health monitoring [52,53,54,55,56], especially in the active sensing method [57,58,59,60,61] and the electromechanical impedance method [62,63,64,65,66]. The active sensing method was used for monitoring bolt loosening [58], very early age cement hydration [59], a bolted spherical joint connection [60], and timber moisture [61].…”

“…The active sensing method was used for monitoring bolt loosening [58], very early age cement hydration [59], a bolted spherical joint connection [60], and timber moisture [61]. The impedance method was used for monitoring the damage in plate-like structures [62], bolted joint looseness [63], pin connection loosening [64], the freeze–thaw process in soil [65], and a concrete-filled fiber-reinforced polymer tube [66]. The PZT-enabled active sensing approach using surface-mounted or embedded transducers has shown great potential for the structural health monitoring of mechanical and civil structures in real time [67,68,69,70].…”

Detecting Debonding between Steel Beam and Reinforcing CFRP Plate Using Active Sensing with Removable PZT-Based Transducers

“…For example, the active sensing method was used in characterizing concrete hydration [38], monitoring circular reinforced concrete columns under seismic excitations [39], and detecting damages in circular RC columns [40]. With the PZT transducer, the electro-mechanical impedance (EMI)-based technique was applied to health-monitoring plate-like structures [41], pin connection loosening [42], and grout compactness of concrete-filled steel tubes [43]. There are other applications of PZT transducers in SHM [44,45].…”