Vibration-based model-dependent damage (delamination) identification and health monitoring for composite structures - A review

There are strong needs and requirements for on-line damage (delamination) detection and health-monitoring techniques on composite Structures. Vibration-based model-dependent methods with piezoelectric sensor and actuator incorporated into composite structures offer a promising option to fulfil such requirements and needs. These methods utilize finite element analysis techniques, together with experimental results, to detect damage. They locate and estimate damage events by comparing dynamic responses between damaged and undamaged structures. According to the dynamic response parameters analyzed, these methods can be subdivided into modal analysis, frequency domain, time domain and impedance domain. Model-dependent methods are able to provide global and local damage information. They are cost-effective and are relatively easy to operate. However, there are still many challenges and obstacles before these methods can be implemented in practice. (C) 2000 Academic Press.