Structural Health Monitoring Sensor Placement Optimization Under Uncertainty

This paper develops a methodology for the optimum layout design of sensor arrays of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems under uncertainty. This includes finite element analysis under transient mechanical and thermal loads and incorporation of uncertainty quantification methods. The finite element model is validated with experimental data, accounting for uncertainties in experimental measurements and model predictions. The SHM sensors need to be placed optimally in order to detect with high reliability any structural damage before it turns critical. The proposed methodology achieves this objective by combining probabilistic finite element analysis, structural damage detection algorithms, and reliability-based optimization concepts. Nomenclature n = number of candidate sensor locations a = number of optimal sensor locations ()xf = objective function x = vector containing the coordinates of a given sensor array [u,v] = bounded box that contains all possible x (i.e. geometric constraints on x) ()CDP = probability of correct detection