Numerical study of structure health monitoring using surface-bonded and embedded PZT transducers

Piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) transducers, which can be surface-mounted on or embedded in structures, are widely used for structural health monitoring. Since they are only sensitive to cracks nearby, the use of ones pasted on structures´ surfaces may not be able to detect accurately the deep damages especially in large size structures. Therefore, the embedded PZT transducers display more advantages. Based on the electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) method, a simulation analysis of the finite element coupling models of the PZT transducers and body structures was made for structural damage detection. The effects of damage diagnoses using the surface-bonded and embedded PZT transducers are compared by the damage index under different conditions, including structures undamaged, damaged in different locations and extents. The results show that the proposed method of using embedded PZT transducers are more effective in identifying cracks in large-sized concrete structures and have great potential in structure health monitoring field.