Vibration-based structural interrogation and health monitoring based on nonlinear signal analysis

Vibration-based structural interrogation and health monitoring is a field which is concerned with the estimation of the current state of a structure or a component from its vibration response with regards to its ability to perform its intended function appropriately. This study suggests using the concept of signal cross-correlation for the purposes of vibration-based health monitoring. A nonlinear alternative of the cross-correlation, the mutual information between two signals measured on the structure, regarded as an input and an output, is used to develop a damage metric and a damage index. The application of the suggested methodology is shown on a composite beam test set using experimental measurements.