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2.6.4 SHM using Electrical Strain Gauges<br />

Vel <strong>an</strong>d Batra (2001) use shear mode piezoelectric actuators in obtaining static<br />

cylindrical bending. The piezoelectric materials are capable of altering the structure‘s<br />

response through sensing, actuation <strong>an</strong>d control, <strong>an</strong>d by integrating surface bonded <strong>an</strong>d<br />

embedded actuators into the <strong>structural</strong> system, desired localised strains may be induced<br />

by applying the appropriate voltage to the actuators. W<strong>an</strong>g et al. (2008) agree that<br />

piezoelectric materials c<strong>an</strong> act both as actuators <strong>an</strong>d sensors for detecting damage by<br />

using their active diagnostic technique.<br />

A study carried out by Birchmeier et al. (2009) shows the capability of <strong>an</strong> Active<br />

Fibre Composite tr<strong>an</strong>sducer to work effectively with the acoustic NDT method (i.e.<br />

Lamb waves). These Lamb waves (elastic guided waves) are able to propagate over<br />

long dist<strong>an</strong>ces <strong>an</strong>d are sensitive to even small defects such as crack, delamination <strong>an</strong>d<br />

local ch<strong>an</strong>ges in wall thickness. In other research works, Thien et al. (2007) use a<br />

piezoelectric macro-fibre composite (MFC) tr<strong>an</strong>sducer for the development of a real<br />

time, low cost, SHM system for pipeline structures. This dual MFC tr<strong>an</strong>sducer is<br />

experimentally employed to utilise both imped<strong>an</strong>ce methods <strong>an</strong>d Lamb wave<br />

propagations. Self-sensing imped<strong>an</strong>ce methods are used to detect <strong>structural</strong> damage<br />

occurring at pipeline connection joints, while the Lamb wave propagation measurement<br />

identifies cracks <strong>an</strong>d corrosion along the surface <strong>an</strong>d through the thickness of the pipe<br />

structure. In fact, this imped<strong>an</strong>ce-based SHM monitoring, as investigated by Park <strong>an</strong>d<br />

Inm<strong>an</strong> (2007) under temperature varying conditions, is able to detect <strong>an</strong>d distinguish<br />

incipient damage. The effect of the temperature is minimised by the empirically-based<br />

compensation technique where for other piezoelectric tr<strong>an</strong>sducers, SHM is unable to be<br />

done.<br />

In terms of strain measurement accuracy, Gregory et al. (1999) report that<br />

typical electrical strain gauges such as resistive type, piezoelectric, semiconductor <strong>an</strong>d<br />

capacit<strong>an</strong>ce gauges are all suitable for very accurate strain measuring devices but have<br />

disadv<strong>an</strong>tages such as small dynamic r<strong>an</strong>ge, gauge factors of less th<strong>an</strong> 5. However, there<br />

are m<strong>an</strong>y ways to overcome this limitation. Osmont et al. (2000) have used a passive<br />

technique using the High Frequency Root Me<strong>an</strong> Square value of the electrical signal<br />

40

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