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Low-Frequency Vibrothermography Using Lightweight Piezoelectric Actuators: The Location of Excitation and Application to Composite Materials

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Special Topics in Structural Dynamics & Experimental Techniques, Volume 5 (SEM 2023)

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Abstract

This article presents a novel infrared thermographic approach for damage detection by utilizing the heat generated around damage sites during vibrations below 1000 Hz induced by lightweight piezoelectric actuators. In this research, the optimal location of excitation was first investigated through finite element analyses, where two generalized equations were obtained to describe the relationship between the excitation and the resulting displacement response. These observations were then verified experimentally on an aerospace-grade composite plate, followed by vibrothermographic tests conducted on the same structure to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed damage detection process employing only a single lightweight piezoelectric disk as the actuator.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Xintian Chi & Nicholas A. J. Lieven

  2. Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

    Dario Di Maio

Authors
  1. Xintian Chi
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  2. Dario Di Maio
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  3. Nicholas A. J. Lieven
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Correspondence to Xintian Chi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Matthew Allen

  2. Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA

    Jason Blough

  3. Modal Shop, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Michael Mains

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Chi, X., Di Maio, D., Lieven, N.A.J. (2024). Low-Frequency Vibrothermography Using Lightweight Piezoelectric Actuators: The Location of Excitation and Application to Composite Materials. In: Allen, M., Blough, J., Mains, M. (eds) Special Topics in Structural Dynamics & Experimental Techniques, Volume 5. SEM 2023. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37007-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37007-6_5

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