Papers by Author: Tadeusz Uhl

Abstract: Lamb waves are the most widely used guided ultrasonic waves for structural damage detection. One of the major problems associate with Lamb wave propagation is the effect of temperature on wave propagation parameters. It is important that these parameters are more sensitive to damage than to varying temperature. The paper demonstrates how amplitude and arrival time of Lamb waves are affected by temperature. The analysis is performed for the experimental data gathered from Lamb wave propagation in a damaged aluminium plate. A simple clustering algorithm is used to distinguish between "undamaged" and "damaged" conditions in the presence of changing temperature.

Abstract: This paper presents second stage of investigations on passive, wireless sensor based on RFID technology for detection of cracks in ceramic parts, plates and equipment (simulation and experiments of operating principle, prototypes that check manufacturing possibilities, process of transponder design). We focused on prototyping of such sensor and we want to present subsequent steps that lead from concept to working prototype. Although it was presented earlier, there is also described shortly project conception of this kind of sensor, and its principle of operation. Important part are also possible applications specification.

Abstract: Lamb waves (LW) are used for damage detection and health monitoring due to the long range propagation ability and sensitivity to structural integrity changes as well as their robustness in different applications. However, due to the dispersive character and multimode nature of LWs, analysis of the acquired ultrasonic signals is very complex. It becomes even more difficult when applied to a complex structure, for instance, an aircraft component with riveted joints and stringers characterized by difficult geometries. Therefore, numerous approaches to the evaluation of damage indices have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, comparison a number of damage indices applied to LWs testing in aircraft aluminum panels. The damage indices, known from the literature have been selected from the application point of view. Artificial neural network has been used for the classification of fatigue cracks and artificial damages induced in the specimens taken from a real aircraft structure. Article presents results of simulation, data analysis and data classification obtained using selected and dedicated neural network. The main aim of the presented research was to develop signal processing and signal classification methods for an aircraft health monitoring system. The article presents a part of the research carried out in the project named SYMOST.

Abstract: One of the major issues from a structural integrity point of view of the aircraft structure is an appropriate health monitoring technology delivery for the damage tolerant philosophy. This paper presents a development of a system for fatigue crack growth monitoring and early damage detection in the PZL 130 ORLIK TC II turbo-prop military trainer aft structure. The maintenance system of the aircraft shifts from the safe-life to the hard-time. The aircraft started Full Scale Fatigue Test (FSFT) which will continue up to 2013. In the article a built block approach for the system design, signal modeling, sensing and signal processing as well as damage detection is presented. Taking into the consideration a previous experience of AGH as well as AFIT, a network of PZT transducers was deployed in the aircraft structure hot-spots. The system components are: remote monitoring unit, signal analysis, graphical user interface, sensor self-diagnostic tools, and data classification model. Description of damage detection capabilities are delivered in the paper. In particular some issues concerning the proposed damage indices and its application to crack growth estimation models are discussed. Fishers Linear Discriminant is used as a method to obtain effective crack growth predictors and one of the self-diagnostic tools used in the system. The results of the data collected from specimen fatigue tests are delivered and cross-validation technique is used to evaluate a classification model based on the damage indices derived.

Abstract: Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an emerging field of technology that involves the integration of sensors, data transmission, processing and analysis for detection, as well as localization and assessment of damage which can lead to its failure in the future [1,. In general, SHM methods can be divided into two groups: local and global ones. The second group can be applied if a global change in the geometry of a structure can be observed. In practice, the most commonly used methods of damage detection are based on the analysis of variations in various dynamic properties caused by damage [3,. However, the excitation of large structures can be costly and difficult. The acquisition of static deflection requires much less effort, which makes the damage detection methods based on changes in deflection curves more attractive for practical use [5-1. Damage detection and localization methods require a densely sampled deflection curve.

Abstract: Ultrasonic transducers are extensively used in medical applications. Any deterioration in their performance can lead to poor quality images. The Local Interaction Simulation Approach (LISA) and Finite Elements are used to model medical ultrasonic transducers. The entire analysis attempts to find out whether the LISA-based methodology could be used for transducer modelling in fault detection applications based on in-air reverberation patterns.

Abstract: In this paper there wasdevelopeda CNT based sensor applied to the tested material and integrated with it. MWCNTs weremixed with polymer and then applied to the materials (fiber glass composites) with the use of screen printing. The surface and the inner part of the sensing material were investigated using SEM. The most importantand noticeable thing was dispersion of CNTs in epoxy.Moreover, the sensors were tested under the different loads. There were three runs for the same compositions of CNT/epoxy. Results from the test runs were compared to the images from SEM and discussed. Screen printing technique has shown promising results for the application and integration of the sensors on the base materials leading to the conclusion to do more research for the screen printing technique for application of CNT/epoxy sensors for large area appliaction and variant environments.

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of low-frequency vibration and the related temperature field on nonlinear vibro-acoustic wave modulations. Experimental modal analysis was used to find natural frequencies and mode shapes of a composite laminate plate with seeded delamination. Temperature distribution was analyzed with a thermographic camera in the vicinity of damage for the identified vibration modes. These frequencies of these vibration modes were then used for low-frequency excitation in nonlinear acoustic tests. The correlation between the thermal field and the observed wave modulations was analyzed.

Abstract: RFID is a rapidly developing technology of wireless communication and identification mostly used in supply chain systems, logistic and access control. Nowadays attempts to transfer this technology to other applications are carried out. This paper presents review of global researches performed last years, on application of RFID technology to tasks connected with wireless passive sensing in Structural Health Monitoring, with additional overview of works conducted in this subject by the authors. Sensors based on this technology require neither battery nor wire. It could be interrogated from distance, its lifetime is almost unlimited. Investigations, focused both on using RFID transponder as a sensing element, as well as, using antenna as a energy harvesting part that could power the sensor circuit, are mentioned. Performed studies show, that despite problems connected with using high frequencies, described wireless sensors should be useful for SHM tasks.

Abstract: Modal filtration in the field of damage detection has many advantages, including: its autonomous operation (without the interaction of qualified staff), low computational cost and low sensitivity to changes in external conditions. However, the main drawback of this group of damage detection methods is its limited applicability to operational data. The modal filtration of the responses spectra (in place of FRFs), proposed in the literature, often does not give the expected results, working properly only for excitation in the form of white noise, or an ideal impulse. In other cases, for example in rotational machines, when in the response spectrum the rotational velocity harmonics dominate it can give wrong results. For such cases authors propose to use a new type of spatial filter, similar to modal filter with the difference that it has ability to filter the operational deflection shape components from the system response. Its application together with classical modal filter allows for damage detection using operational data with other type of excitation. The main assumption of the new spatial filter is the orthogonality of the filter coefficient vector to the operational deflection shape vector, it is then similar to the classical modal filter.