Characterization of mechanical vibrations in a metal structure using the transform Cepstrum

Abstract

This work adequately characterizes and correlates the effects generated by inducing mechanical vibrations on a metallic structure as a means of determining or predicting potential alterations or failures in bodies used in civil and industrial works of a static nature. Vibration sensors (piezoelectric), experimental information capture software (Labview) and the application of signal processing and classification tools were used for this. Various previous works have used signal processing techniques such as Fourier and Wavelet. These show indications about the relationship between the processed signals and the structural alterations of the different tests.  On this occasion, through the use of Cepstrum analysis as an alternative tool for the processing of mechanical vibrations and complementary to the use of a dissimilarity technique (Euclidean distance) for the assessment of the ability to differentiate between classes grouped according to the anomaly studied and The use of statistical indicators to evaluate the homogeneity of the data has made it possible to show deviations that can be linked to structural defects (perforation, welding, denting and shear) of a metallic armor at the laboratory level. Finally, it was evidenced that the use of Cepstrum coefficients as characteristic information of the anomaly, at an experimental level, broadens the knowledge base and undoubtedly allows the implementation of the bases to encourage the academic and commercial development of tools or techniques for remote inspection of static equipment that is of great use to society.