Experimental Application of a Stochastic Volterra Series Approach for Damage Detection in a Nonlinear Beam

Temel Kavramlar

The stochastic Volterra series approach can effectively detect damage in an initially nonlinear system while accounting for the presence of uncertainties in the measured data.

Özet

This work presents the experimental application of a stochastic version of the Volterra series combined with a novelty detection approach to detect damage in an initially nonlinear system, taking into account the measured data variation caused by the presence of uncertainties.
The experimental setup consists of a cantilever aluminum beam with a nonlinear interaction between a steel mass and a magnet near the free extremity. Damage is emulated by loosening nuts in a bolted connection, which changes the mass of the system.
The stochastic Volterra model is identified in the healthy condition using Monte Carlo simulations to capture the data variation caused by uncertainties such as sensor and actuator positions, boundary conditions, and temperature fluctuations. The linear and nonlinear contributions of the stochastic Volterra kernels are then used as damage-sensitive features.
The results show that the nonlinear index is more sensitive to the presence of damage compared to the linear index, justifying the use of a nonlinear metric when the system exhibits intrinsically nonlinear behavior. The stochastic approach also outperforms the deterministic Volterra series method in detecting damage, especially in the initial stages of damage propagation, where the data variation can mask the damage effects.

İstatistikler

The system exhibits nonlinear behavior even in the healthy condition, as evidenced by the appearance of higher harmonics in the response spectrum.
The emulated damage is associated with the loss of mass in a bolted connection, which has a linear characteristic.

Alıntılar

"The nonlinear index presented a higher sensitivity to the damage presence and for both indexes. It is complicated to make difference between the initial propagation of damage (Condition I) and the reference/repair states because it can be observed a superposition in the upper quartile of the indexes computed in the reference state and the lower quartile (even the mean value) of the indexes calculated in the damage I condition."
"The stochastic approach also outperforms the deterministic Volterra series method in detecting damage, especially in the initial stages of damage propagation, where the data variation can mask the damage effects."

Önemli Bilgiler Şuradan Elde Edildi

Damage detection in an uncertain nonlinear beam based on stochastic Volterra series: an experimental application

by Luis Gustavo... : arxiv.org 09-26-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2409.16305.pdf

Daha Derin Sorular

How could the stochastic Volterra series approach be extended to detect more complex damage types, such as cracks or delamination, in composite structures?

The stochastic Volterra series approach can be extended to detect more complex damage types, such as cracks or delamination in composite structures, by incorporating several key modifications and enhancements. First, the model can be adapted to account for the specific nonlinear characteristics associated with these types of damage. For instance, cracks often introduce localized stiffness reductions and changes in modal properties, while delamination can lead to significant changes in the dynamic response due to the separation of layers.
To effectively capture these phenomena, the stochastic Volterra series can be expanded to include higher-order kernels that represent the unique nonlinear interactions resulting from these damage types. This involves increasing the order of the Volterra series to better model the complex interactions between the input excitation and the structural response. Additionally, the use of advanced probabilistic modeling techniques, such as Bayesian inference, can help in estimating the parameters of the Volterra kernels more accurately, considering the uncertainties inherent in the measurements.
Moreover, the integration of machine learning techniques can enhance the damage detection capabilities by allowing the model to learn from a larger dataset that includes various damage scenarios. By training the stochastic Volterra model on experimental data that simulates different types of damage, the model can become more adept at distinguishing between healthy and damaged states, even in the presence of noise and uncertainties.

What are the limitations of the stochastic Volterra series method in terms of computational cost and scalability to larger, more complex structures?

The stochastic Volterra series method, while powerful for damage detection, does have limitations regarding computational cost and scalability, particularly when applied to larger and more complex structures. One significant limitation is the computational burden associated with estimating the Volterra kernels, especially as the order of the series increases. The need for Monte Carlo simulations to achieve convergence in the estimation of the stochastic model can lead to high computational demands, requiring substantial processing time and resources.
As the complexity of the structure increases, the number of parameters in the Volterra series also increases, which can lead to overfitting if not managed properly. This complexity can make it challenging to obtain reliable estimates of the Volterra kernels, particularly in real-time applications where quick decision-making is crucial.
Additionally, the method's scalability is constrained by the need for extensive experimental data to accurately characterize the system's behavior under various conditions. For large structures, collecting sufficient data can be logistically challenging and time-consuming. Furthermore, the stochastic nature of the model may require more sophisticated data processing techniques to handle the increased variability in measurements, which can further complicate the analysis.

How could the insights from this study on the importance of accounting for uncertainties in damage detection be applied to other structural health monitoring techniques, such as vibration-based methods or guided wave-based methods?

The insights gained from this study regarding the importance of accounting for uncertainties in damage detection can be significantly beneficial when applied to other structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques, such as vibration-based methods and guided wave-based methods.
In vibration-based methods, the recognition that uncertainties—such as environmental factors, measurement noise, and variations in boundary conditions—can obscure the true structural response is crucial. By integrating probabilistic models similar to the stochastic Volterra series, vibration-based methods can enhance their robustness against these uncertainties. This could involve developing confidence intervals for damage indices derived from modal parameters, allowing for a more reliable assessment of structural health.
For guided wave-based methods, which are often used for detecting damage in composite materials, the insights from this study can lead to improved signal processing techniques that account for uncertainties in wave propagation. By employing statistical methods to analyze the guided wave signals, practitioners can better differentiate between damage-related changes and variations caused by environmental factors or measurement errors.
Furthermore, the application of machine learning algorithms to both vibration-based and guided wave-based methods can be informed by the stochastic approach, enabling these techniques to learn from historical data and improve their predictive capabilities in the presence of uncertainties. This holistic approach to SHM can lead to more accurate and reliable damage detection across various structural types and conditions.