ADVANCEMENTS IN STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING: A REVIEW OF MACHINE LEARNING APPROACHES FOR DAMAGE DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a crucial discipline geared towards detecting damage in engineering structures early, aiming to prevent failures and facilitate condition-based maintenance. Traditional SHM methodologies, relying on visual inspections, analytical models, and signal processing, exhibit inherent limitations. The advent of machine learning has introduced data-driven solutions to automate various aspects of SHM, including damage detection, localization, classification, and prognosis. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent studies exploring supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning techniques in vibration-based, image-based, and multi-sensor SHM. Support vector machines, neural networks, deep convolutional neural networks, and other advanced algorithms have demonstrated exceptional performance in assessing damage using real-world structural datasets. Despite these successes, practical challenges persist, particularly in addressing variability and deploying machine learning models effectively on full-scale structures. Overcoming these challenges necessitates a more integrated, cross-disciplinary approach, merging mechanical engineering fundamentals with machine learning expertise. This synergy can pave the way for robust field implementation and further enhance the reliability of SHM systems. The transformative potential of machine learning in SHM cannot be understated. Beyond merely shifting from time-based maintenance to condition-based strategies, machine learning can automate and continuously evaluate structural integrity, ensuring the longevity of engineering structures. As we delve deeper into the intersection of mechanical engineering and machine learning, the prospect of a future where SHM seamlessly integrates with advanced technologies becomes increasingly tangible.