Fatigue damage prognostics and life prediction with dynamic response reconstruction using indirect sensor measurements

This study presents a general methodology for fatigue damage prognostics and life prediction integrating the structural health monitoring system. A new method for structure response reconstruction of critical locations using measurements from remote sensors is developed. The method is based on the empirical mode decomposition with intermittency criteria and transformation equations derived from finite element modeling. Dynamic responses measured from usage monitoring system or sensors at available locations are decomposed into modal responses directly in time domain. Transformation equations based on finite element modeling are used to extrapolate the modal responses from the measured locations to critical locations where direct sensor measurements are not available. The mode superposition method is employed to obtain dynamic responses at critical locations for fatigue crack propagation analysis. Fatigue analysis and life prediction can be performed given reconstructed responses at the critical location. The method is demonstrated using a multi degree-of-freedom cantilever beam problem.