Optimization of inspection and monitoring of structures in case of spatial fields of deterioration/properties

Volume: invitation of D. Straub and M.G. Stewart to special session “MS-314: Spatial Probabilistic Modeling of Deterioration and Inspection”, paper #ID 10497International audienceThe localization of weak properties or bad behavior of a structure is still a very challenging task that concentrates the improvement of Non Destructive Testing (NDT) toolson more efficiency and higher structural coverage. In case of random loading or material properties, this challenge is arduous because of the limited number of measures and the quasi-infinite potential positions of local failures. The paper shows that the stationary property is useful to find the minimum quantity of NDT measurements and their position for a given quality assessment. Atwo stagesprocedure allows us (i) to quantifythe properties of the ergodic, stationary field (ii) to assess the distribution of the characteristics. The paper focuses on optimization of sensor geo-positioning to reach (i): the criterion relies on the width of the confidence interval. The concept of critical upperbound spatial correlation is introduced