Damage Detection in a Steel Beam Based on an Impact-Acoustics Approach

Abstract

Vibration and acoustics travel through a structure under the action of an impact force at a position on that structure. The acoustic detection system comprises either an accelerometer or a microphone to capture the acoustic signatures of the vibrations. Both signatures can be simultaneously collected by an impact hammer test and are analysed by this non-destructive test to obtain more reliable results than those of a single signature. This work investigates the damage identification of the beam structure based on the experimental data collected from the impact hammer test using an accelerometer and a microphone. The damage detection experiment on a steel beam illustrates the reliability of the defect detection using the simultaneous measurements by two sensors.