A wireless intelligent fatigue monitoring system based on PVDF

Due to the multi-factor influence, big errors in theoretical analysis and difficulties in chronically capturing fatigue datum in real time, it is difficult to give a timely and reliable warning for fatigue failure. This has been a critical problem in engineering practice such as in mechanical engineering, civil infrastructures, aerospace engineering and energy related structures. Considering the problems of analysis on fatigue damage cumulation based on conventional method of strain history, this paper proposes a wireless intelligent system based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensor for fatigue damage monitoring of in-service structures with online structural health monitoring. Firstly, PVDF's sensitivity is calibrated according to its sensing characteristics. Secondly, from the experimental results of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy members, the performance of the system is verified. Finally, by comparison of the experimental results and the S-N curve of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, the method of study on fatigue of materials in the paper is feasible. The results show that the system has good working stability, high accuracy and nice instantaneity, and it can be further applied to practice.