Structural Damage Detection in a Steel Column-Beam Joint Using Piezoelectric Sensors

Piezoelectric materials are used in sensors to detect sudden changes in stress condition that permits to its piezoelectric part to emit an electrical signal. Therefore, piezoelectric sensors are recommended to detect impacts, number of occurrences of impacts, vibrations, etc. In this research, application of piezoelectric sensors to detect structural damage due to seismic action on building structures is investigated. Film-type piezoelectric sensor was developed and proposed for this task. This film-type piezoelectric sensor was attached to a thin steel plate that was set up at a steel column-beam joint of a test specimen that was subjected to bending moment. Potential applicability of this piezoelectric sensors to detect structural damages was verified. However, detailed analysis and additional experimental tests are required to establish standard parameters for standardized evaluation of the level of damages in building structures.