Winglets are introduced into modern aircraft to reduce wing aerodynamic drag and to consequently optimize the fuel burn per mission. In order to be aerodynamically effective, these devices are installed at the wing tip section; this wing region is generally characterized by relevant oscillations induced by flights maneuvers and gust. The present work is focused on the validation of a continuous monitoring system based on fiber Bragg grating sensors and frequency domain analysis to detect physical condition of a skin-spar bonding failure in a composite winglet for in-service purposes. Optical fibers are used as deformation sensors. Short Time Fast Fourier Transform (STFT) analysis is applied to analyze the occurrence of structural response deviations on the base of strain data. Obtained results showed high accuracy in estimating static and dynamic deformations and great potentials in detecting structural failure occurrences.

The knowledge of the load in prestressed bolted connections is essential for the proper operation and safety of engineering structures. Recently, bolted joints have become an area of intensive research associated with non-destructive diagnostics, in particular in the context of wave propagation techniques. In this paper, a novel procedure of bolt load estimation based on the energy of Lamb wave signals was proposed. Experimental tests were performed on a single lap joint of two steel plates. Ultrasonic waves were excited and registered by means of piezoelectric transducers, while precise measurement of the bolt load was obtained by means of using the force washer transducer. Experimental tests were supported by the finite element method analysis based on Schoenberg’s concept. The results showed that the relationship between the bolt load and signal energy was strongly nonlinear and it depended on the location of acquisition points.

The present paper is devoted to the discussion and review of the non-destructive testing methods mainly based on vibration and wave propagation. In the first part, the experimental methods of actuating and analyzing the signal (vibration) are discussed. The piezoelectric elements, fiber optic sensors and Laser Scanning Doppler Vibrometer (SLDV) method are described. Effective detecting of the flaws needs very accurate theoretical models. Thus, the numerical methods, e.g. finite element, spectral element method and numerical models of the flaws in isotropic and composite materials are presented. Moreover, the detection of the damage in structures, which are subjected to cyclic or static loads, is based on the analyzing of the change in natural frequency of the whole structure, the change of internal impedance of the material and the change in guided waves propagating through the investigated structure. All these cases are characterized in detail. At the end of this paper, several applications of the structural health monitoring systems in machine design and operation are presented.

The paper describes studies on the influence of humidity on the electrical resistance of a textile sensor made of carbon fibres. The concept of the sensor refers to externally bonded fibre reinforcement commonly used for strengthening of structures, however the zig-zag arrangement of carbon fibre tow allows for measuring its strain. The sensor tests showed its high sensitivity to the temperature and humidity changes which unfavourably affects the readings and their interpretation. The influence of these factors must be compensated. Due to the size of the sensor, there is not possible electrical compensation by the combining of “dummy” sensors into the half or full Wheatstone bridge circuit. Only mathematical compensation based on known humidity resistance functions is possible. The described research is the first step to develop such relations. The tests were carried out at temperatures of 10°C, 20°C, 30°C and humidity in the range of 30-90%.

The hereby paper discusses the influence of cable length on the SHM systems with the use of vibrating wire dynamic measurements. Vibrating wire sensors are mainly used for measuring stable or slowly changing strains, e.g. system installed on Rędziński Bridge in Wroclaw. From some time applications of these sensors for measuring dynamic deformations are becoming popular. Such tests were conducted on STS Fryderyk Chopin. New solutions generate new problems. In this case: the operational stability of systems exciting wire vibrations. The structure of such sensors and the electric cables length has an essential influence on their operations, what is undertaken in the paper. The subject of investigations constitutes the measuring system based on self-exciting impulse exciter, for which impedance parameters of electric cables and of the vibrating wire sensor were the most essential. The mathematical model of the system, experimental verification of the model as well as the results of theoretical analyses at the application of electric cables of various lengths are presented in the paper.

The paper presents a concept and realization of monitoring system for the Silesian Stadium in Chorzow. The idea of the system lies in fusion of structure monitoring with a calibrated numerical FEM model [1]. The inverse problem is solved. On the base of measured selected displacements, the numerical FEM model of the structure combined with iterative method, develops the current snow load distribution. Knowing the load, we can calculate the forces and stresses in each element of the structure and thanks to this we can determine the safety thresholds and asses the owner. Test results and conclusions are presented.

The paper presents a method of structural monitoring with the use of angular displacement measurements performed with inclinometer devices. Inclinometer method is a solution free from the basic disadvantages of optical methods used commonly in structural monitoring, such as sensitivity to any type of visibility restrictions, pollution or influence of weather conditions. At the same time, with appropriate sensor parameters, a much better measurement accuracy is obtained than for typical optical methods and very low energy demand and moderate costs are achieved. Taking into account the above-mentioned issues, in the first stage an appropriate MEMS-type inclinometer sensor was selected, its laboratory tests were carried out and a method of the offset temperature drift correction, individual for each sensor, was developed.

The paper presents a method of structural monitoring with the use of angular and linear displacement measurements performed using inclinometer and laser measuring devices. The focus is mainly on the inclinometer measurement method, which is a solution free from the basic disadvantages of optical methods, such as sensitivity to any type of visibility restrictions, pollution or influence of weather conditions. Testing of this method was carried out in practical application in an wireless monitoring system, installed in a large-area industrial building. The measurement results performed using the inclinometers were compared with simultaneous measurements of linear displacements performed with the use of proven methods based on laser rangefinders. The research and analysis show that the method of measuring angular displacements using the inclinometers with MEMS sensors of appropriate quality is a very good, better than typical optical methods, solution of structural monitoring systems that allows to obtain accurate and reliable results.