Bayesian Model Updating Approach for Systematic Damage Detection of Plate- Type Structures

This paper presents a model-based monitoring framework for the detection of fatigue-related crack damages in plate-type structures commonly seen in aluminum ship hulls. The monitoring framework involves vibration-based damage detection methodologies and finite element modeling of continuum plate structures. A Bayesian-based damage detection approach is adopted for locating probable damage areas. Identifying potential damage locations by evaluating all possible combinations of finite elements in the model is computationally infeasible. To reduce the search space and computational efforts, initial knowledge of the probable damage zones and a heuristic-based branch-and-bound scheme are systematically included in the Bayesian damage detection framework. In addition to an overview of the model-based monitoring framework, preliminary results from numerical simulations and experimental tests for a plate specimen with a welded stiffener are presented to illustrate the Bayesian damage detection approach and to demonstrate the potential application of the approach to detect fatigue cracks in metallic plates.