A simple method for enhanced vibration-based structural health monitoring

This study suggests a novel method for structural vibration-based health monitoring for beams which only utilises the first natural frequency of the beam in order to detect and localise a defect. The method is based on the application of a static force in different positions along the beam. It is shown that the application of a static force on a damaged beam induces stresses at the defect which in turn cause changes in the structural natural frequencies. A very simple procedure for damage detection is suggested which uses a static force applied in just one point, in the middle of the beam. Localisation is made using two additional application points of the static force. Damage is modelled as a small notch through the whole width of the beam. The method is demonstrated and validated numerically, using a finite element model of the beam, and experimentally for a simply supported beam. Our results show that the frequency variation with the change of the force application point can be used to detect and in the same time localize very precisely even a very small defect. The method can be extended for health monitoring of other more complicated structures

A simple method for enhanced vibration-based structural health monitoring

This study suggests a novel method for structural vibration-based health monitoring for beams which only utilises the first natural frequency of the beam in order to detect and localise a defect. The method is based on the application of a static force in different positions along the beam. It is shown that the application of a static force on a damaged beam induces stresses at the defect which in turn cause changes in the structural natural frequencies. A very simple procedure for damage detection is suggested which uses a static force applied in just one point, in the middle of the beam. Localisation is made using two additional application points of the static force. Damage is modelled as a small notch through the whole width of the beam. The method is demonstrated and validated numerically, using a finite element model of the beam, and experimentally for a simply supported beam. Our results show that the frequency variation with the change of the force application point can be used to detect and in the same time localize very precisely even a very small defect. The method can be extended for health monitoring of other more complicated structures

Damage localization and quantification of composite stratified beam structures using residual force method

10.1088/1742-6596/842/1/012028Journal of Physics: Conference Series84211202

Damage and repair classification in reinforced concrete beams using frequency domain data

This research aims at developing a new vibration-based damage classification technique that can efficiently be applied to a real-time large data. Statistical pattern recognition paradigm is relevant to perform a reliable site-location damage diagnosis system. By adopting such paradigm, the finite element and other inverse models with their intensive computations, corrections and inherent inaccuracies can be avoided. In this research, a two-stage combination between principal component analysis and Karhunen-Loéve transformation (also known as canonical correlation analysis) was proposed as a statistical-based damage classification technique. Vibration measurements from frequency domain were tested as possible damage-sensitive features. The performance of the proposed system was tested and verified on real vibration measurements collected from five laboratory-scale reinforced concrete beams modelled with various ranges of defects. The results of the system helped in distinguishing between normal and damaged patterns in structural vibration data. Most importantly, the system further dissected reasonably each main damage group into subgroups according to their severity of damage. Its efficiency was conclusively proved on data from both frequency response functions and response-only functions. The outcomes of this two-stage system showed a realistic detection and classification and outperform results from the principal component analysis-only. The success of this classification model is substantially tenable because the observed clusters come from well-controlled and known state conditions

The influence of cracks in rotating shafts

In this paper, the influence of transverse cracks in a rotating shaft is analysed. The paper addresses the two distinct issues of the changes in modal properties and the influence of crack breathing on dynamic response during operation. Moreover, the evolution of the orbit of a cracked rotor near half of the first resonance frequency is investigated. The results provide a possible basis for an on-line monitoring system. In order to conduct this study, the dynamic response of a rotor with a breathing crack is evaluated by using the alternate frequency/time domain approach. It is shown that this method evaluates the nonlinear behaviour of the rotor system rapidly and efficiently by modelling the breathing crack with a truncated Fourier series. The dynamic response obtained by applying this method is compared with that evaluated through numerical integration. The resulting orbit during transient operation is presented and some distinguishing features of a cracked rotor are examined

Patterns Of Academic Help-Seeking In Undergraduate Computing Students

Knowing when and how to seek academic help is crucial to the success of undergraduate computing students. While individual help-seeking resources have been studied, little is understood about the factors influencing students to use or avoid certain re- sources. Understanding students’ patterns of help-seeking can help identify factors contributing to utilization or avoidance of help resources by different groups, an important step toward improving the quality and accessibility of resources. We present a mixed-methods study investigating the help-seeking behavior of undergraduate computing students. We collected survey data (n = 138) about students’ frequency of using several resources followed by one-on-one student interviews (n = 15) to better understand why they use those resources. Several notable patterns were found. Women sought help in office hours more frequently than men did and computing majors sought help from their peers more often than non-computing majors. Additionally, interview data revealed a common progression in which students started from easily accessible but low utility resources (online sources and peers) before moving on to less easily accessible, high utility resources (like instructor office hours). Finally, while no differences between racial groups was observed, the lack of diversity in our sample limits these findings

A multistage FE updating procedure for damage identification in large-scale structures based on multiobjective evolutionary optimization

This study aims to develop a multistage scheme for damage detection for large structures based on experimental modal data and on finite element (FE) model updating methods applied on simple FE models. In the first stage, occurrence and approximate location of damage is performed by using damage functions in order to decrease the number of parameters to be updated. The goal in the second stage is to identify the specific damaged members and damage extent by considering only the members belonging to the regions detected as damage in the first stage. To improve identification, the optimization procedure is formulated in a multiobjective context solved by using evolutionary algorithms. Modal flexibilities and a damage location criterion dependent on frequencies and mode shapes are used as two objective functions of the multiobjective problem. The proposal is implemented in simulated case studies and in a case study of a real bridge experimentally tested with successful results

Lessons learned from applications of vibration-based damage identification methods to a large bridge structure

Over the past 30 years detecting damage in a structure from changes in dynamic parameters has received considerable attention from the aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering communities. The general idea is that changes in the structure`s physical properties (i.e., stiffness, mass, and/or damping) will, in turn, alter the dynamic characteristics (i.e., resonant frequencies, modal damping, and mode shapes) of the structure. Properties such as the flexibility matrix, stiffness matrix, and mode shape curvature, which are obtained from modal parameters, have shown promise for locating structural damage. However, the application of these techniques to large civil engineering structures is limited because of the inability to find structures that the owners will allow to be damaged. Also, the cost associated with testing these structures can be prohibitive. In this paper, the authors` experiences with performing modal tests on a large highway bridge, in its undamaged and damaged state, for the purpose of damage identification will be summarized. Particular emphasis will be made on the lessons learned from this experience and the lessons learned from recent tests on another bridge structure

Computation of structural flexibility for bridge health monitoring using ambient modal data

Issues surrounding the use of ambient vibration modes for the location of structural damage via dynamically measured flexibility are examined. Several methods for obtaining the required mass- normalized dynamic mode shapes from ambient modal data are implemented and compared. The method are applied to data from a series of ambient modal tests on an actual highway bridge. Results indicate that for the damage case examined, the flexibility from the ambient mode shapes gave a better indication of damage than the flexibility from the forced-vibration mode shapes. This improved performance is attributed to the higher excitation load levels that occur during the ambient test