Piezoelectric ceramic sensor-based structural health monitoring of diagonally braced H-shaped steel structures

In this study, we propose a piezoelectric ceramic sensor-based health monitoring method to monitor the stress state of diagonally braced H-shaped steel structures. Loading experiments were carried out on diagonally braced H-shaped steel under different working conditions. Subsequently, the amplitude and energy of piezoelectric signals under these two working conditions were compared and analyzed, and finite element analysis was performed using ABAQUS software to verify the results. The experimental results showed that with an increase in the web height or load, the time-domain waveform energy index of the H-shaped steel increased. Under different working conditions, such as a diagonally braced H-shaped steel member with a web height of 10 cm, when the pressure value was less than 10 N/mm², the energy index increased by approximately 15.98% for every 1 N/mm² increase in the pressure. When the pressure value was greater than 10 N/mm² and less than 15 N/mm², the energy index increased by approximately 1% for every 1 N/mm² increase in pressure. Further, the energy index increased by approximately 8.4% for every 1 cm increase in the height of the web. Simultaneously, it can be seen from the results of the finite element analysis that the stress and strain at the induction position of the piezoelectric ceramic sensor increased with an increase in the external pressure. The study of structural health monitoring for diagonally braced H-shaped steel structures holds significant importance in ensuring the safety and reliability of these structures, achieving predictive maintenance, evaluating structural performance and energy efficiency, and optimizing structural maintenance.