Improvement Estimation Accuracy of Impact Detection Using Metal‐Core Piezoelectric Fiber/Aluminum Composites

Abstract

Metal-core piezoelectric fiber/aluminum composites are promising candidates for use as sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. These composites exhibit excellent mechanical properties compared with conventional piezoelectric ceramics because the fiber is embedded into the aluminum matrix using the interphase forming/bonding method. Furthermore, it has emerged that the output voltage characteristics of composites show distinct anisotropy. Herein, an impact detection system with more practical estimation accuracy is developed by performing wavelet transformation on the output voltage. To investigate the practicality of the proposed method, the estimation results are compared with the results using the conventional output voltage. By exploiting the anisotropic response, the new system is expected to reduce the number of sensors required compared with conventional systems, while retaining accuracy. The results show that the present system could be applied successfully using models of the output voltage and signals obtained from composites fixed in two different positions. Application of the wavelet transform method to the output voltage reduced the estimation errors in comparison with values estimated directly from the output voltage, with maximum estimation error of 4.38 mm. This accuracy cleared the minimum required accuracy for an SHM system; thus, confirming the validity of this approach.

Low‐Velocity Impact Response Analysis of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Plates Using Finite‐Element Method and a Two‐Degrees‐of‐Freedom Spring‐Mass Model

“…Using Equation (55) and inserting it into Equation (52), the variation of the potential energy (Equation ( 51)) is expressed as the form specified below. Eventually, the variation of the energy due to the external stimuli (i.e., electromechanical load cases) is derived by substituting Equation ( 55) and ( 56) into (54) and is represented as…”

“…In comparison with the linear analysis, a smaller deflection response was reported for the applied nonlinear method. Yanaseko et al [ 55 ] developed a robust impact detection system that requires reduced numbers of sensors and is ideal for structural health monitoring applications. The system consisted of metal–core piezoelectric fiber/aluminum composite, and it utilizes output voltage anisotropy to map the impact position; however, estimated accuracy was lower than the order which was required.…”

Development of Hybrid Piezoelectric-Fibre Optic Composite Patch Repair Solutions

“…Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques offer a potential solution for bondline integrity monitoring. SHM techniques have been extensively developed and tested for detecting external impact events through passive sensing methodologies [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and consequently barely visible impact damage (BVID) through active sensing techniques [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Two of the main sensor technologies that have received attention are Piezoelectric (PZT) transducers and Fibre optic (FO) sensors due to their many advantages, either used individually [ 15 , 16 ] or in combination [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Electric polarization and crystal orientation of lead zirconate titanate under mechanical stress due to embedding in a metal matrix

“…In addition, the thermal stress caused by the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the piezoelectric ceramics and the metal is expected to improve the strength of the piezoelectric ceramics by acting as a prestress on the piezoelectric ceramics. These properties are utilized in applications such as impact detection [19] and viscosity sensor [20,21]. The robustness of PZT/Al composites is attributed to the presence of a metal matrix and the extremely high compressive stresses generated during the embedding process [22,23].…”