Electromechanical impedance-based structural health monitoring for damage detection in steel structures

In 2018, part of the Morandi bridge in Italy collapsed and 43 people were killed, only because of a defect that could have been detected. To prevent such failures, implementing a structural health monitoring technique that secures the safety of life, property, and environment, is of great importance. If an appropriate method is used for damage detection, the infrastructure's operational cost will be reduced since a low-cost repair can be scheduled timely. The electromechanical impedance-based method is a technique that can detect very small damages, like fatigue cracks, in steel infrastructure. In this online and in-situ method, a small, low-cost, and lightweight piezoelectric transducer is surface-mounted on a host structure. Opposite to the available solutions including acoustic emission, guided wave, and fiber optic sensing, the EMI method has clear advantages for fatigue crack monitoring: - It is an active technique and thus allows permanent monitoring. - The required hardware is very affordable for industries. - Piezoelectric transducers exhibit very good durability and survivability against temperature cycling and environmental exposure. - It can be applied to complex structures, e.g., a heavy-lifting crane. - The PZT sensors can be installed remotely from the crack location. The electromechanical impedance-based method does not require any shutdown of infrastructures. Therefore, they can have improved efficiency. Under the support of the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) of UGent, a project is initiated to further develop the EMI method towards a robust technology or industrial application. First, the effects of environmental and operational factors on the performance of the EMI method will studied for the sake of a technological proof-of-concept. The second goal is to build up a (wireless) measurement node system. Eventually, the ambition is to open a new horizon in EMI applications by integrating decision-making strategies for integrity analysis and maintenance planning of infrastructures.In 2018, part of the Morandi bridge in Italy collapsed and 43 people were killed, only because of a defect that could have been detected. To prevent such failures, implementing a structural health monitoring technique that secures the safety of life, property, and environment, is of great importance. If an appropriate method is used for damage detection, the infrastructure's operational cost will be reduced since a low-cost repair can be scheduled timely. The electromechanical impedance-based method is a technique that can detect very small damages, like fatigue cracks, in steel infrastructure. In this online and in-situ method, a small, low-cost, and lightweight piezoelectric transducer is surface-mounted on a host structure. Opposite to the available solutions including acoustic emission, guided wave, and fiber optic sensing, the EMI method has clear advantages for fatigue crack monitoring: - It is an active technique and thus allows permanent monitoring. - The required hardware is very affordable for industries. - Piezoelectric transducers exhibit very good durability and survivability against temperature cycling and environmental exposure. - It can be applied to complex structures, e.g., a heavy-lifting crane. - The PZT sensors can be installed remotely from the crack location. The electromechanical impedance-based method does not require any shutdown of infrastructures. Therefore, they can have improved efficiency. Under the support of the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) of UGent, a project is initiated to further develop the EMI method towards a robust technology or industrial application. First, the effects of environmental and operational factors on the performance of the EMI method will studied for the sake of a technological proof-of-concept. The second goal is to build up a (wireless) measurement node system. Eventually, the ambition is to open a new horizon in EMI applications by integrating decision-making strategies for integrity analysis and maintenance planning of infrastructures.C