Rapid and Robust Dynamics-Based Nondestructive Method for Aerospace Structural Health Monitoring

A dynamics-based damage identification technique with aid of smart piezoelectric materials and scanning laser vibrometer is proposed for health monitoring of aerospace structures. The identification technique is developed with closely considerations of implementation of a portable dynamics-based system for on-site use and potential for real-time automated monitoring. Therefore, the smart piezoelectric materials will be used as sensors and actuators, which provide great prospect for development of on-board smart structural health monitoring (SHM) system; while development of identification technique using scanning laser vibrometer will lead to portable on-site system. The objective of Phase I project is to develop a robust dynamics-based damage identification technique with capability of determining the location and extent of damage in aerospace structures made of both metallic and composite materials. The curvature mode shape and anti-resonance methods will be used simultaneously to locate and quantify the damage, and a combined static and dynamic technique will be employed to perform detection experiment demonstration. A combined experimental and analytical/numerical approach will be adopted, and the novel numerical simulation of damage structures will be used as a guide and validation tool for experimental study.