An Experimental Study on the Effect of Temperature on Piezoelectric Sensors for Impedance-Based Structural Health Monitoring

Author(s)

Baptista, Fabricio G. ^[1] ; Budoya, Danilo E. ^[1] ; de Almeida, Vinicius A. D. ^[1] ; Ulson, Jose Alfredo C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Engn, Dept Engn Eletr, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SENSORS; v. 14, n. 1, p. 1208-1227, JAN 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 80

Abstract

The electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique is considered to be one of the most promising methods for developing structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. This technique is simple to implement and uses small and inexpensive piezoelectric sensors. However, practical problems have hindered its application to real-world structures, and temperature effects have been cited in the literature as critical problems. In this paper, we present an experimental study of the effect of temperature on the electrical impedance of the piezoelectric sensors used in the EMI technique. We used 5H PZT (lead zirconate titanate) ceramic sensors, which are commonly used in the EMI technique. The experimental results showed that the temperature effects were strongly frequency-dependent, which may motivate future research in the SHM field. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/10825-4 - Piezoelectric transducers applied in the structural health monitoring: design and temperature effects compensation
• Grantee: Fabricio Guimarães Baptista
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/02600-5 - Structural damage detection based on electromechanical impedance technique under temperature variations
• Grantee: Danilo Ecidir Budoya
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation