Impedance-based nondestructive method for structural health monitoring and material property identification

This dissertation has concentrated on developing an impedance-based methodology for the in-situ structural health monitoring and nondestructive material property identification using piezoelectric (PZT) transducers. The impedance models are presented to predict the dynamics of PZT and used to detect and characterize the damage in structures. The capability of the impedance method for the structural health monitoring of civil infrastructures is studied through both experimental and numerical investigations. The mixed-experimental-numerical impedance-based model is formulated to relate the structural properties to impedance response. Utilizing this model, a quantitative damage identification technique is developed for beam structures. An impedance-based damage localization and quantification technique is presented for thin plates.; The effective elastic behavior of porous materials is studied and an impedance-based nondestructive method is developed for simultaneous identification of the effective elastic properties of porous materials.