Modal Parameters Identification of Concrete Structure Based on Built-in PZT Sensors

Structural modal parameters identification so far has been a major issue in health monitoring system, for which damage diagnosis methods are based on. The emergence and development of smart materials have provided the more accurate techniques in structural parameters measurement. Piezoceramic material has the advantages of cheap, wide band frequency response and high sensitivity to strain variation. In this paper, PZT sensors encapsulated by cement were firstly made and the dynamic performance test proceeded on the MTS. Embedded into concrete pillar, the sensors can identify the vibration parameters of structure based on the direct piezoelectric effect. Impact test result shows that the PZT sensors signal can correctly render the regular pattern of the damped natural vibration of structure. So the modal parameters can be identified by the PZT sensors signal.