Crack detection based on optimal control

Techniques for optimal control to increase system security attract a great deal of interest from industry. The presence of transversal cracks can considerably modify the dynamics of a system. In the case of closed-loop systems, i.e. controlled systems, these faults can cause the destabilization and variation of control performance. Consequently, such variations can be used to detect transversal cracks. Therefore, the present study proposes an investigation into the possibility of detecting structure modification based on estimated control performance by using the Rational Fraction Polynomial algorithm. This method is applied numerically to a multi-cracked controlled truss. Both the optimal control of the cracked structure and the possibility of detecting the presence of cracks by monitoring the evolution of control performance are studied. The efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical simulations corresponding to different crack orientations and locations.