Integrated structural health monitoring for composites using proper orthogonal decomposition based model filter

This study presents a damage detection algorithm based on the proper orthogonal decomposition technique for health monitoring of composite structures. A finite element model of a carbon/epoxy composite plate is used to generate vibration data for healthy and damaged structures. Varying levels of stiffness reduction for the elements in the damaged zone of the structure simulate impact damage. Different random excitation inputs are used for each of the three damage locations investigated in order to introduce variation in the loading conditions of the model. An experimental investigation is also performed using a carbon/epoxy plate similar to the numerical model. The composite plate is mounted as a cantilever and the fixed end of the plate is excited with an electro-magnetic shaker. Impact damage is introduced into the plate dropping a steel ball in one area of the plate from different heights. The results of the damage detection method indicate that damages can be detected and localized using this algorithm.