AN EXPERIMENTALLY VALIDATED DAMAGE DETECTION THEORY IN SMART STRUCTURES

A method for the non-destructive detection and location of damage usin g parameterized partial differential equations and Galerkin approximat ion techniques is presented. Damages in a structure cause changes in t he physical coefficients of mass density, elastic modulus and damping coefficients. This paper examines the use of beam like structures with piezoceramic sensors and actuators to perform identification of those physical parameters, and hence to detect the damage. The method casts the inverse problem as an optimization problem. The iterative method is based on enhanced least-square error minimization. Experimental res ults are presented from tests on cantilevered aluminum beams damaged a t different locations and with damage of different dimensions. It is d emonstrated that the method can sense the presence of damage, and loca te and characterize the damage to a satisfactory precision. (C) 1996 A cademic Press Limited