Structural damage detection using time domain responses and teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm

Recently, the authors proposed computationally attractive algorithms to determine the location and extent of structural damage for undamped structures assuming damage results in a localized change in stiffness properties. The algorithms make use of a finite-element model and a subset of measured eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The developed theories approach the damage location and extent problem in a decoupled fashion. First, a theory is developed to determine the location of structural damage. With location determined, a damage extent theory is then developed. The damage extent algorithm is a minimum rank perturbation, which is consistent with the effects of many classes of structural damage on a finite-element model. In this work, the concept of the minimum rank perturbation theory (MRPT) is adopted to determine the damage extent on the mass properties of an undamped structure. In addition, the MRPT is extended to the case of proportionall y damped structures. For proportionally damped structures, the MRPT is used to find the damage extent in any two of the three structural property matrices (mass, damping, or stiffness). Finally, illustrative case studies using both numerical and actual experimental data are presented. HE advent of the Space Shuttle has prompted considerable attention to the design and control of large space structures. Due to the large size and complexity of envisioned structures, as well as the use of advanced materials to reduce structural weight, it may become necessary to develop a structural health monitoring system to detect and locate structural damage as it occurs. From experience gained in the machinery health monitoring field, one would expect the vibration signature of the structure, either frequency response functions and/or modal parameters, to provide useful information in determining the location and extent of structural damage. Assume that a refined finite element model (FEM) of the structure has been developed before damage has occurred. By refined, we mean that the measured and analytical modal properties are in agreement. Next, assume that at a later date some form of structural damage has occurred. If significant, the damage will result in a change in the structures modal parameters. The question is: can the discrepancy between the original FEM modal properties and postdamage modal properties be used to ascertain structural damage? Most prior work in damage detection has used the general framework of FEM refinement (system identification) in the development of damage assessment algorithms. The motivation behind the development of FEM refinement techniques is based on the need to validate engineering FEMs before their acceptance as the basis for final design analysis. The standard problem has been to seek a refined FEM that is as close to the original FEM and whose modal properties are in agreement with those that are measured subject to various constraints such as symmetry and sparsity preservation. A considerable amount of work in this area has been

After the teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm was proposed, many improved algorithms have been presented in recent years, which simulate the teaching–learning phenomenon of a classroom to effectively solve global optimization problems. In this paper, a cyclical non-linear inertia-weighted teaching–learning-based optimization (CNIWTLBO) algorithm is presented. This algorithm introduces a cyclical non-linear inertia weighted factor into the basic TLBO to control the memory rate of learners, and uses a non-linear mutation factor to control the learner’s mutation randomly during the learning process. In order to prove the significant performance of the proposed algorithm, it is tested on some classical benchmark functions and the comparison results are provided against the basic TLBO, some variants of TLBO and some other well-known optimization algorithms. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has better global search ability and higher search accuracy than the basic TLBO, some variants of TLBO and some other algorithms as well, and can escape from the local minimum easily, while keeping a faster convergence rate.

Efficient wind energy harvesting becomes more and more important as a consequence of the increasing interest in renewable energy in the European Union [1]. This leads to growing sizes of wind turbines (WTs), and with it, larger WT blades (WTBs). The structural designs of these WTBs are created to optimize the potential energy output, where low mass is a key requirement. However, high flexibilities and lower buckling capacities are further results of these developments [2], thus certain damage scenarios become significant. Intelligently designed structural health monitoring (SHM) systems can help to reduce the associated operations and maintenance costs. Even though, several techniques are already developed for structural damage detection (SDD) in WTBs, the majority of these methods is not suitable for inservice measurements. This paper presents a SDD and structural damage localization (SDL) method based on the partial autocorrelation function (PACF) of vibration responses. The approach is applied to a numerical model of a large WTB, where the acceleration responses are obtained from transient dynamic simulations with a simplified aerodynamic loading approach. The novel damage sensitive feature (DSF) is developed as the Mahalanobis distance between a baseline and current vector of PACF coefficients. First, numerical modal analysis of the finite element (FE) WTB model is performed in order to estimate the effect of a disbonding damage scenario on the vibration characteristics. Second, the behaviour of the PACF for time series of the healthy system is discussed. Third, the SDD results on the basis of statistical hypothesis testing are assessed for two selected sensor locations and increasing damage extents. Finally, the performance of the proposed DSF with respect to SDL is illustrated for multiple locations on the WTB’s surface. This study demonstrated the efficiency of a DSF based on the PACF for SDD and SDL, which is promising for future developments of vibration-based SHM techniques in WTBs.

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have been applied in structural damage detection as a classifier, but generally a capable ANNs has to be trained with a certain amount of samples. When both damage locations and damage extents are to be identified, the amount of training samples is tremendous because of the combinations of damage locations and extents. By wavelet transform of the structure free motion equations, the Residual Wavelet Coefficient Vector (RWCV) is deduced. A damage feature parameter is defined as the ratio between RWCVs in two different frequency bands. This parameter has a unique property that it's sensitive only to damage locations, and is independent of damage extents. The damage feature parameters are then fed to the neural network for damage localization. After the damage sites are detected, the damage extent is further identified by another neural network with RWCVs as inputs. This two-phase approach for damage localization and extent identification can simply the neural network and reduce the training samples tremendously. Finally a numerical example is given for damage detection of a 10 DOFs system using the proposed approach.

In this paper, a novel two-stage structural damage detection method using modal flexibility and strain energy-based index (MFSEBI) and modified teaching–learning-based optimization (MTLBO) algorithm is proposed. In the first stage, a novel damage index (MFSEBI) is proposed based on the combination of two structural modal properties including modal strain energy of elements and diagonal members of the structural flexibility matrix to identify the suspected damaged elements. The performance of this indicator is compared with the performance of an indicator derived from the modal strain energy. As the change in the structural modal properties is also affected by environmental variations, in this study, the effect of varying environmental conditions on the performance of the MFSEBI is also examined. In the second stage, the modal response of the structure is used and subsequently updated by MLTBO to estimate the damage extents of the suspected elements. At this stage, the MTLBO algorithm is proposed by enhancing the teaching and learning quality of the TLBO algorithm using new updating mechanisms of each learner position. The performance of the MTLBO and TLBO algorithms is compared in terms of the accuracy of the results and convergence rate. The results of three numerical examples indicate a better performance of the MFSEBI index in damage localization using a smaller number of mode shapes. These results also demonstrate the higher accuracy of the estimated damage extents and the faster convergence rate of the objective function using MTLBO, even with the consideration of measurement noise effects.

In the present paper, Structural health monitoring has become an evolving area of research in last few decades with increasing need of online monitoring the health of large structures. The damage detection by visual inspection of the structure can prove impractical, expensive and ineffective in case of large structures like offshore platforms, multistoried buildings and bridges. Structural health monitoring is defined as the process of detecting damage in a structural system. Damage in the system causes a change in dynamic properties of a system. The structural damage is typically a local phenomenon, which tends to be captured by higher frequency signals. Most of vibration-based damage detection methods require the modal properties that are obtained from measured signals through the system identification techniques. However, the modal properties such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are not such a good sensitive indication of structural damage. Structural damage detection and damage localization of jacket platforms, based on wavelet packet transforms is presented in this paper. Dynamic signals measured from the structure by the finite element software package ANSYS are first decomposed into wavelet packet components. Component energies are then calculated and used for damage assessment. The results show that the WPT-based component energies are good candidate indices that are sensitive to structural damage. These component energies can be used for damage assessment including identifying damage occurrence and location.

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Vibration control devices have recently been used in structures subjected to wind and earthquake excitations. The optimal design problems of the passive control device and the feedback gain matrix of the controller for the seismic-excited structures are some attractive problems for researches to develop optimization algorithms with the advancement in terms of simplicity, accuracy, speed, and efficacy. In this paper, a new modified teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm, known as MTLBO, is proposed for the problems. For some benchmark optimization functions and constrained engineering problems, the validity, efficacy, and reliability of the MTLBO are firstly assessed and compared to other optimization algorithms in the literature. The undertaken statistical indicate that the MTLBO performs better and reliable than some other algorithms studied here. The performance of the MTLBO will then be explored for two passive and active structural control problems. It is concluded that the MTLBO algorithm is capable of giving better results than conventional TLBO. Hence, its utilization as a simple, fast, and powerful optimization tool to solve particular engineering optimization problems is recommended.

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A methodology is presented for detecting structural damage in elastic structures by nondestructive means. Measured modal test data along with a correlated analytical structural model are used to locate potentially damaged regions using residual modal force vectors and to conduct a weighted sensitivity analysis to assess the extent of mass and/or stiffness variations, where damage is characterized as a stiffness reduction. The current approach is unique among other approaches in that it accounts for (1) variations in system mass, system stiffness, and mass center (locations), (2) perturbations of both the natural frequencies and modal vectors, and (3) statistical confidence factors for the structural parameters and potential experimental instrumentation error. Moreover, this procedure can be used with either full or reduced models. A wide variety of numerical examples are presented that show that the current method provides a precise indication of both the location and the extent of structural damage.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an important application area for wireless sensor networks. SHM techniques attempt to autonomously detect and localize damage in large civil structures. Structural engineers often implement and test SHM algorithms in a higher level language such as C/Matlab. In this paper, we describe the design and evaluation of NETSHM, a sensor network system that allows structural engineers to program SHM applications in Mat-lab or C at a high level of abstraction. In particular, structural engineers do not have to understand the intricacies of wireless networking, or the details of sensor data acquisition. We have implemented a damage detection technique and a damage localization technique on a complete NETSHM prototype. Our experiments on small and medium-scale structures show that NETSHM is able to detect and localized damage perfectly with very few false-positives and no false negatives, and that it is robust even in realistic wireless environments.

In this paper, we propose a damage identification method of laminated composite structures based on dynamic residual forces. Dynamic residual forces are evaluated using an analytical model of undamaged structures and measured vibration data of damaged structures. In the first step, a rough damage region is identified from the dynamic residual forces. Then, error vectors of the residual forces are minimized to identify the accurate location and extent of structural damage. Effect of measurement points and measurement errors on the identification results is examined through numerical examples on symmetric laminated plates.