Impedance-based structural health monitoring with artificial neural networks

This paper presents a non-model based technique to detect, locate, and characterize structural damage by combining the impedance-based structural health monitoring technique with an artificial neural network. The impedance-based structural health monitoring technique, which utilizes the electromechanical coupling property of piezoelectric materials, has shown engineering feasibility in a variety of practical field applications. Relying on high frequency structural excitations (typically >30 kHz), this technique is very sensitive to minor structural changes in the near field of the piezoelectric sensors. In order to quantitatively assess the state of structures, multiple sets of artificial neural networks, which utilize measured electrical impedance signals for input patterns, were developed. By employing high frequency ranges and by incorporating neural network features, this technique is able to detect the damage in its early stage and to estimate the nature of damage without prior knowledge of the model of structures. The paper concludes with experimental examples, investigations on a massive quarter scale model of a steel bridge section and a space truss structure, in order to verify the performance of this proposed methodology.

An efficient modal control strategy for the active vibration control of a truss structure

In this paper an efficient modal control strategy is described for the active vibration control of a truss structure. In this approach, a feedback force is applied to each mode to be controlled according to a weighting factor that is determined by assessing how much each mode is excited by the primary source. The strategy is effective provided that the primary source is at a fixed position on the structure, and that the source is stationary in the statistical sense. To test the effectiveness of the control strategy it is compared with an alternative, established approach namely, Independent Modal Space Control (IMSC). Numerical simulations show that with the new strategy it is possible to significantly reduce the control effort required, with a minimal reduction in control performance. © 2007 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.

A note on non-linear phenomena in a non-ideal oscillator, with a snap-through truss absorber, including parameter uncertainties

This work considers the vibrating system that consists of a snap-through truss absorber coupled to an oscillator under excitation of an electric motor with an eccentricity and limited power, characterizing a non-ideal oscillator. It is aimed to use the non-linearity and quasi-zero stiffness of absorber (snap-through truss absorber) to obtain a significantly attenuation the jump phenomenon. There is also an interest to exhibit the reduction of Sommerfeld effect, to confirm the saturation phenomenon occurrence and show the power transfer in a non-linear structure, evidencing the pumping energy. As shown by simulations in this work, this absorber allows the energy pumping before and during the jump phenomenon, decreasing the higher amplitudes of considered system. Additionally, the occurrence of saturation phenomenon due use of snap-through truss absorber is verified. The analysis of parameter uncertainties was introduced. Sensitivity of system with parametric errors demonstrated a trustable system. © IMechE 2012.

A finite element approach for predicting the ultimate rotation capacity of RC beams

This paper presents a numerical approach to model the complex failure mechanisms that define the ultimate rotational capacity of reinforced concrete beams. The behavior in tension and compression is described by a constitutive damage model derived from a combination of two specific damage models [1]. The nonlinear behavior of the compressed region is treated by the compressive damage model based on the Drucker-Prager criterion written in terms of the effective stresses. The tensile damage model employs a failure criterion based on the strain energy associated with the positive part the effective stress tensor. This model is used to describe the behavior of very thin bands of strain localization, which are embedded in finite elements to represent multiple cracks that occur in the tensioned region [2]. The softening law establishes dissipation energy compatible with the fracture energy of the concrete. The reinforcing steel bars are modeled by truss elements with elastic-perfect plastic behavior. It is shown that the resulting approach is able to predict the different stages of the collapse mechanism of beams with distinct sizes and reinforcement ratios. The tensile damage model and the finite element embedded crack approach are able to describe the stiffness reduction due to concrete cracking in the tensile zone. The truss elements are able to reproduce the effects of steel yielding and, finally, the compressive damage model is able to describe the non-linear behavior of the compressive zone until the complete collapse of the beam due to crushing of concrete. The proposed approach is able to predict well the plastic rotation capacity of tested beams [3], including size-scale effects.

Ligações em estruturas metálicas com ênfase em perfís formados a frio

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil - FEIS

Estudo das ligações por conectores de chapas com dentes estampados em peças estruturais de madeira

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise de estruturas reticuladas utilizando o software excel pelo método dos elementos finitos

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Análise estrutural de treliças espaciais no software Excel utilizando o médodo dos elementos finitos

The following paper means to develop a program to make structural analysis of space trusses. The program to be implemented was based on the concepts of the finite element method and used the programing resources of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for the Excel Software®. Being Excel® a software of easy access, low cost, capacity to make matrix calculations and with advanced resources of VBA programing, it is possible to develop an economic solution, efficient and precise for structural analysis of space trusses. Firstly is presented a finite elemento method and the space truss. Then is developed a few important algorithms to be used during the development of the program and also the use of a few resources of VBA. And to validate the quality, efficiency and precision of the results, these are compared with the established commercial software Ansys

Análise comparativa de tensões e deformações específicas em uma estrutura treliçada, utilizando abordagem experimental e pelo método de elementos finitos

The process of knowledge construction is associated with physical or mechanical view of the phenomenon. In mechanical engineering courses should supplement their courses with physical or virtual learning devices to aid visualization of these phenomena. For the purpose of improving the mechanical engineering department laboratory practice was developed, through a project, a didactic device a trellis. The purpose of this work is the detailed study by comparing the theoretical results with the experimental results collected through the specific strains collected in the Catman. The study was iniatially done with nodes made of aluminum, giving results with high errors not allowing a good conclusion of results. For best results were achieved an improvement of the structure with strict we support the lattice and, thus, further study and greater quality of lattice structure

Controle ativo de estruturas reticuladas utilizando atuadores de pilha de pzt

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Análise estrutural de vigas treliçadas de aço com mesa de concreto

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil - FEIS

Aplicação de reguladores vegetais na produção e qualidade de frutos do tomateiro

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Modelagem e análise de tensão em estrutura óssea com implante metálico, através do método dos elementos finitos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)