Damage Detection in Plates with the Use of Laser-Measured Mode Shapes

Abstract

This paper presents the use of laser vibrometer measurements to detect and locate damage in a metal plate. An algorithm based on local spatial filters was selected, and for the purpose of comparison, the fault location was also determined based on the wavelet analysis of mode shapes. The research was carried out first on the created finite element model of aluminum plate, where two kinds of damage of increasing size and temperature change were simulated. After obtaining positive results, a laboratory experiment was carried out, which consisted of measuring the vibration of the aluminum plate with the laser vibrometer in undamaged condition, at increased temperatures, and with various damage scenarios. The conclusions of the laboratory experiment confirm the damage detection capabilities of the methods but question their damage localization potential.