Experimental verification of intelligent fault detection in rotor blades

Citation
J. Cattarius et Dj. Inman, Experimental verification of intelligent fault detection in rotor blades, INT J SYST, 31(11), 2000, pp. 1375-1379
Citations number
3
Categorie Soggetti
AI Robotics and Automatic Control
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMS SCIENCE
ISSN journal
00207721 → ACNP
Volume
31
Issue
11
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1375 - 1379
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-7721(200011)31:11<1375:EVOIFD>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
The common idea of examining damage in mechanical structures through vibrat ional methods is analysed from a practical point of view. The method presen ted is based on a straightforward time domain approach and utilizes respons e signals in their purest form. Error magnification related to computationa l manipulations, e.g. FFT, or similar procedures, is avoided. The fact that the proposed method is straightforward and involves a minimum of signal pr ocessing, renders the approach attractive for use in practice, as an intell igent fault detection system. The method was applied to a clamped section of a helicopter rotor blade. Da mage was induced by a mass increase (locally added weight) and a mass reduc tion (holes drilled into the structure), respectively. The experiments show that minimal effects on fundamental eigenfrequencies are reliably detectab le without any a priori knowledge of the structure. A series of measurement s with damage locations changed successively demonstrates nicely the effect s on natural frequencies. In obtaining this result it became apparent that every case study exhibited its own individual vibrational signature which i s very desirable in a health-monitoring environment.