Detection and Characterization of Fatigue Induced Damage Using Electromechanical Impedance Technique

In this paper, the feasibility of damage detection and characterization using the EMI technique on high cycles fatigue induced damage is investigated. Cyclic tensile load is applied on a lab sized aluminium beam up to failure. Piezo-impedance transducer in the form of PZT patch (lead zirconate titanate) is surface bonded on the specimen for crack detection. Progressive shift in admittance signatures measured by the PZT patch corresponding to increase of loading cycles reflects effectiveness of the EMI technique in tracing the process of fatigue damage progression.