Fault Detection in a Cracked Pipeline Embedded with Piezoelectric Sensors/Actuators Employing Bond Graph Approach

The main scope of this article is to simulate a cracked pipeline embedded with piezoelectric sensors and actuators utilizing bond graph approach. Piezoelectric sensors/actuators are becoming very popular in various applications such as health monitoring, active vibration control or noise reduction, and as a part of the systems called smart structures. The proposed bond graph structure in this study, graphically illustrates the power flow between the electrical and mechanical frameworks included in the system. In addition, the proposed framework makes it possible to utilize a modular structure for separately representing the electrical polarization of the material and its macroscopic electrical and mechanical effects. Simulation results illustrate that at the location of the crack the equivalent impedance is increased and the capacitance is decreased in comparison with the intact region.