Vibration-based Structural Health Monitoring – Concepts and Applications

This paper gives an overview on the current status of vibration-based methods for Structural Health Monitoring. All these methods have in common that a structural change due to a damage results in a more or less pronounced change of the dynamic behavior. The use of modal information is discussed, as well as the direct use of forced and ambient vibrations. From this information, different strategies can be deduced which depend on the type of measurement data (time/frequency domain) but also on the frequency spectrum. The incorporation of actuation and sensing devices into the structure leads to modern concepts of Smart Structural Health Monitoring. Examples from civil and aerospace engineering show the applicability of these methods.