New passive defect detection technique

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of a new passive technique of on-line damage detection based on the most fundamental concept in continuum mechanics: strain compatibility. The main feature of this technique is its invariance to changing operating conditions. The technique is quite general and can be applied to structures made of isotropic or anisotropic materials and structural components experiencing elastic or plastic deformations. A few practical situations, involving the development of crack damage in plate structures, are considered to demonstrate the feasibility of this crack detection technique, as well as its potential for many practical applications. Future work will focus on the experimental validation of the technique.