Key Engineering Materials Vol. 518

Abstract: When considering structural health monitoring (SHM) applications efficient and powerful numerical methods are required to predict the behavior of ultrasonic guided waves and to design SHM systems. The existing commercial explicit finite element analysis tools based on standard linear displacement elements quickly reach their limits when applied to ultrasonic waves in thin plates, so called Lamb waves. It is known that the required temporal and spatial resolution causes enormous computational costs. One resort to overcome this problem is the application of special finite elements utilizing higher order polynomial shape functions (p > 2). The current paper is focused on the development of such higher order finite elements and the verification of their accuracy and performance. In the paper we compare and evaluate the capabilities of spectral finite elements, p-version finite elements and isogeometric finite elements. Their advantages and disadvantages with respect to ultrasonic wave propagation problems are discussed and their properties are demonstrated by solving a benchmark problem. Higher order finite elements with varying polynomial degrees in longitudinal and transversal direction (anisotropic ansatz space) are investigated and convergence studies are performed. The results of the convergence studies are summarized and a guideline to estimate the optimal discretization is prepared. If the required accuracy is known, the proposed guideline provides a helpful means to determine both the element size and the polynomial degree template for a given model.

Abstract: The complexity and diversity of civil engineering structures impose requirements on the monitoring systems, which are difficult to be satisfied. In the paper the concept of the distributed diagnostic system capable of monitoring the technical state of critical elements of large infrastructure objects like steel trusses, supermarket buildings, exposition halls, bridges etc. is discussed. Adaptation of such systems is essential for online assessment of technical state of the infrastructure objects and could limit the possibility of catastrophic disasters with loss of people. As a source of information data from strain gauges, passive magnetic field sensors and acceleration sensors applied to the construction are considered. For the process of selection of sensors and diagnostic methods the mathematical model of the construction and the physical test stand were used.

Abstract: Transmissions including spur gears are widely used in several industrial applications. They are characterized by high efficiency and capability to transmit high torques. A special attention should be made for transmissions running under varying loading conditions which have to be well monitored. The presence of this variability associated with defects that may occur in the transmission will complicate its condition monitoring. The first step to overcome this difficulty is to identify and characterize the dynamic response of the transmission in healthy conditions subjected to variable loading conditions. In this paper, a model based approach is presented in order investigate the influence of the loading shape on the vibration characteristics of the transmission. A dynamic model of a one stage spur gear transmission including a time varying loading conditions is developed. Two cases of loading conditions are considered. A parametric study is achieved and main conclusions are discussed.

Abstract: This paper concerns an approach based on the electromechanical impedance for damage detection and monitoring of aircraft components. In the introductory part of the paper the theory of proposed method and the characteristics of elaborated structural health monitoring system are briefly described. Afterwards, applications of described system applied to damage detection in different aircraft components are presented. First, the process of monitoring of bolted joints localized in the fuselage is described and effectiveness of this process is discussed. In the application four PZT patches were used to track a torque decrease in three joints. The latter application deals with monitoring of riveted engine housing made of aluminium. Introduced notch was monitored with two MFC transducers. In both mentioned cases the frequency characteristics of measured impedance were compared using different deterministic and statistical damage indexes.

Abstract: Autonomous structural health monitoring systems with independent power sources and wireless sensor nodes are increasingly seen as the best solution for monitoring a diverse range of machines and structures including pumps, bridges and aircraft. Powering these systems using harvested energy from ambient sources provides an attractive alternative to the use of batteries which may be either inaccessible for routine maintenance or unsuitable (for example in aerospace applications). A number of techniques are currently being considered including harvesting energy from vibration and thermal gradients. Harvesting energy can however lead to a highly variable power supply in opposition to the requirements of a wireless sensor node which requires continuous standby power with an additional capacity for power peaks during transmission of data. A power management system with embedded energy storage is therefore necessary in order to match supply and demand. Due to the low levels of power harvested in a number of applications, an important factor in the design of such a system is its efficiency to ensure sufficient power reaches the sensor node. Based on the requirements for a simple power management system for thermoelectric power harvesting consisting of a rectifier, a DC/DC convertors and a battery, this paper first examines the possibilities in terms of basic components with a number of commercially available units tested and characterised. Potential designs for a management system incorporating these components are then discussed and a blueprint for an optimal system is suggested.

Abstract: Structural Health Monitoring of distributed systems is closely connected with data transmission from measurement points to the main server, where measurement data is processed and subjected to expert assessment. Power Line Communication (PLC) technology allows data transmission through existing power network. The greatest advantage of the PLC technology is the possibility of using ubiquitous, electric infrastructure, wherever there is no access to dedicated wired transmission links. However, it should be stressed that the main application of power lines is transmission of electricity while data transmission is a secondary issue. In monitoring systems and distributed measurement systems it is of vital importance that information from measurement points reaches the receiver in the unchanged form. Hash functions rise possibility of proper recognition if transmitted data is an exact mapping of information sent from measurement point. The paper concerns the method of polynomial hash function implementation for PLC systems in the LabVIEW environment.

Abstract: This paper demonstrates impact damage detection in a composite sandwich panel. The panel is built from a chiral honeycomb and two composite skins. Chiral structures are a subset of auxetic solids exhibiting counterintuitive deformation mechanism and rotative but not reflective symmetry. Damage detection is performed using nonlinear acoustics,involves combined vibro-acoustic interaction of high-frequency ultrasonic wave and low-frequency vibration excitation. High-and low-frequency excitations are introduced to the panel using a low-profile piezoceramic transducer and an electromagnetic shaker, respectively. Vibro-acoustic modulated responses are measured using laser vibrometry. The methods used for impact damage detection clearly reveal de-bonding in the composite panel. The high-frequency weak ultrasonic wave is also modulated by the low-frequency strong vibration wave when nonlinear acoustics is used for damage detection. As a result frequency sidebands can be observed around the main acoustic harmonic in the spectrum of the ultrasonic signal.

Abstract: The process of monitoring and diagnosis of planetary gearboxes is currently one of the most significant topics for vibroanalysis. The reason for ubiquitous research activities on the topic arises form a shortage of efficient method for a non-destructive thorough vibration analysis of planetary gearboxes, especially working under low speeds. On the other hand, the number of high-value planetary gearboxes working in industry rises rapidly, mainly due to expansion of wind farms. In the paper, the authors present a novel method for the assessment of the technical state of planetary gearboxes with a vibration sensor mounted on the casing, and without a planets position sensor. The method is based on the calculation of cyclic energy of gearbox teeth contact within consecutive carrier revolutions. The methods performance is illustrated on a real data from a wind turbine.

Abstract: In this paper the investigation of a structural health monitoring method for thin-walled parts of structures is presented. The concept is based on the guided elastic wave propagation phenomena. This type of waves can be used in order to obtain information about structure condition and possibly damaged areas. Guided elastic waves can travel in the medium with relatively low attenuation, therefore they enable monitoring of extensive parts of structures. In this way it is possible to detect small defects in their early stage of growth. It is essential because undetected damage can endanger integrity of a structure. In reported investigation piezoelectric transducer was used to excite guided waves in chosen specimens. Dispersion of guided waves results in changes of velocity with the wave frequency, therefore a narrowband signal was used. Measurement of the wave field was realized using laser scanning vibrometer that registered the velocity responses at points belonging to a defined mesh. An artificial discontinuity was introduced to the specimen. The goals of the investigation was to detect it and find optimal sensor placement for this task. Determination of the optimal placement of sensors is a very challenging mission. In conducted investigation laser vibrometer was used to facilitate the task. The chosen mesh of measuring points was the basis for the investigation. The purpose was to consider various configuration of piezoelectric sensors. Instead of using vast amount of piezoelectric sensors the earlier mentioned laser vibrometer was used to gather the necessary data from wave propagation. The signals gather by this non-contact method for the considered network were input to the damage detection algorithm. Damage detection algorithm was based on a procedure that seeks in the signals the damage-reflected waves. Knowing the wave velocity in considered material the damage position can be estimated.

Abstract: Thermosonics is a rapid and potentially cost-saving non-destructive testing (NDT) screening technique that can be applied to the identification of cracks in high pressure compressor turbine blades in turbofan engines. The reliability of the thermosonic technique is not well established for inspecting these complex components; in particular the vibrational energy generated within a component during a thermosonic test is often highly non-uniform, leading to the possibility of missing critical defects. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology, using a combination of vibration measurements and finite element analysis (FEA), to model the vibrational energy within a turbine blade in a typical thermosonic inspection scenario. Using a laser vibrometer, the steady-state vibration response (i.e. frequency response) at several locations on a blade was measured and used to identify the prominent peaks in the frequency spectra. These were then used to generate an excitation function for the finite element modelling approach. Acceptable correlation between the measured and simulated vibration response at a number of specific locations on the blade allowed the forcing function to simulate the vibration response across the whole blade. Finally, the predicted displacement field was used to determine the vibrational energy at every point on the blade which was mapped onto a CAD representation of the blade, thereby highlighting areas on the blade that were below the defect detection threshold.