Damage detection under varying temperature using artificial neural networks

To avoid false alarms for vibration-based structural damage detection methods, temperature effects on damage-sensitive features should be eliminated. In this paper, a novel two-step damage identification method combining a multilayer neural network and novelty detection is developed to differentiate the changes in natural frequencies (one of the most commonly used damage features that can be obtained reliably and relatively easily) due to damage from those induced by temperature variations. In the first step, a multilayer artificial neural network, which resembles an auto-associative neural network but uses temperature variables in addition to the frequencies as the inputs, is explored to identify patterns in frequencies of undamaged structures under varying temperatures. Euclidean distance is then utilized as a novelty index to quantify the discordancy between patterns in undamaged cases and candidate cases. Numerical studies using a simply supported beam and finite element models based on an experimental grid structure, which simulate different levels of stiffness reductions under varying temperature conditions, are used to verify the detectability and robustness of the proposed approach. It is shown that the incorporation of the proposed artificial neural network with novelty detection enables one to robustly distinguish damage occurrence and severity regardless of temperature variations and noise perturbations. Using an unsupervised learning scheme, the proposed approach transforms a multivariate analysis using modal frequencies and temperature data into a straightforward univariate discordancy test using the novelty index. Given these competitive advantages, this approach is very attractive for the development of an automated continuous monitoring system in practical applications.