applied

sciences
Editorial
Structural Health Monitoring: Latest Applications and
Data Analysis
Grzegorz Psuj * and Barbara Szymanik *

Center for Electromagnetic Fields Engineering and High-Frequency Techniques, Faculty of Electrical Engineering,
West Pomeranian University of Technology, Sikorskiego 37, 70-313 Szczecin, Poland
* Correspondence: gpsuj@zut.edu.pl (G.P.); szymanik@zut.edu.pl (B.S.)

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is focused on the systematic monitoring of the

state of structures to determine their safety, dependability, and durability. The process
entails the utilization of diverse sensing technologies, data analysis methodologies, and
computational models to consistently evaluate the structural soundness, identify any
impairments, and anticipate potential malfunctions. The utilization of SHM is of essen-
tial importance in various industries such as aerospace, civil infrastructure, energy, and
transportation. Its significance lies in the timely identification of damage or deterioration,
which can help prevent catastrophic events, improve maintenance strategies, and reduce
operational expenses.
In recent years, the field of SHM has witnessed significant advancements in multiple
areas of research. The development of SHM systems is taking place according to many
aspects, including advances in known or introduction of new materials, as well as the
fabrication of complex structures. Additionally, it is driven by the need to elevate safety
protocols. These factors affect several important domains of growth in SHM systems. Gen-
erally, a primary concern has been the advancement of novel measurement methodologies
that facilitate the enhancement of data quality and the exploration of material characteris-
tics through innovative means. The development of new technologies, on the other hand,
also entails the need to develop new materials for the construction of elements constituting
sensory systems. An essential aspect of modern systems pertains to the integration of
complex data analysis algorithms that facilitate the identification of interdependencies and
the analysis of large data sets.
Citation: Psuj, G.; Szymanik, B.
Referring to the first-mentioned aspect—advancement of novel measurement method-
Structural Health Monitoring: Latest
ologies, which involves the development of new sensors, measurement techniques, and
Applications and Data Analysis. Appl.
miniaturization technologies—the authors featured in the presented Special Issue introduce
Sci. 2023, 13, 7617. https://doi.org/
innovative measurement techniques that improve the accuracy of material testing and
10.3390/app13137617
evaluation. In [1], the detection of real corrosion cracks using sweep frequency eddy-
Received: 24 May 2023 current frequency–response analysis, aiming to increase the probability of crack detection
Revised: 22 June 2023 compared to conventional sweep frequency methods, is investigated. A new approach
Accepted: 26 June 2023 incorporating innovative solutions and a multi-point detection method was proposed
Published: 28 June 2023
and tested on austenitic steel plate specimens. The results demonstrate that utilizing a
multi-point detection method and additional mathematical processing of signals enhances
the detection ability of sweep frequency excitation for real corrosion cracks. Paper [2]
Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
addresses the challenge of determining cable forces in bridges, emphasizing the importance
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
of accurate assessment for evaluating the performance of structures. The proposed method
This article is an open access article
presented in this study allows for the direct identification of cable tensions in a two-cable
distributed under the terms and network without removing cross-ties, resulting in precise estimates with an error of less
conditions of the Creative Commons than 1.0 percent, saving time and improving accuracy. Assessment of the condition of
Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// building structure elements has become the subject of another work. In study [3], authors
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ propose an innovative methodology using microwave thermography to determine the
4.0/).

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 7617. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137617 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 7617 2 of 4

concrete cover thickness in a reinforced concrete wall. By employing the transmission ap-
proach with multiple angles and applying physical principles, such as the Snell–Descartes
law, the proposed method accurately estimates the concrete cover thickness, spacing of
steel bars, and dielectric constant of the concrete, achieving results close to the real val-
ues. Additionally, the detection of concrete cover thickness is highlighted as a notable
achievement of infrared thermography methods.
Alongside the hardware aspect mentioned in the previous paragraph, there has been
a notable focus on data processing and fusion. In particular, the integration of artificial
intelligence techniques has emerged as a crucial element in SHM. Today, this area is one
of the main branches of work on current control systems, and in the context of the rapid
development of artificial intelligence algorithms, it will be an integral part of practical mea-
surement systems. Advanced analysis methods make it possible to search for non-obvious
and complex relationships and correlations between data, which allows for achieving ever-
higher efficiency and accuracy rates of newly developed systems and technologies. This
modern trend is also visible in the articles published in this Special Issue relating to a wide
range of areas: from assessing the condition of operating building structures of various
sizes to testing the properties and state of materials. In [4], the verification of the random
forest algorithm for non-invasive assessment of excessively damp and salty historical brick
walls is presented. The developed method, which provides quantitative assessment, was
validated using archival research and experimental tests in two historical buildings. The re-
sults showed satisfactory linear correlation coefficients and low absolute and relative errors,
confirming the effectiveness of the random forest algorithm for evaluating the moisture
content of brick walls without destructive intervention. Advanced data processing tech-
niques are also used in the research presented in article [5], where the authors emphasize
the importance of continuous and reliable dam safety monitoring data for the evaluation
and control of dam operation and security. The article proposes a cokriging spatial model
based on variable importance for data repair, considering the spatial and environmental
factors that influence dam safety. This model aims to improve the accuracy of data repair
and ensure that monitoring data reflect the actual safety conditions of the dam. In article [6],
authors investigate the use of magnetic Barkhausen noise MBN combined with classical
machine learning methods to assess the grade and magnetic anisotropic properties of
electrical sheets. The study compares the performance of classical machine learning and
deep learning approaches using 26 algorithms. The results show that while the highest
accuracy was achieved by machine learning models based on artificial neural networks
and ensemble bagged trees, the deep learning model consistently outperformed classical
machine learning methods by approximately 10% in terms of accuracy. A neural network
approach is also utilized in [7]—this paper addresses the challenge of detecting hidden
corrosion at rivet sites in aircraft structures. The proposed approach combines machine
learning and electromagnetic testing to effectively identify the corrosion of various sizes
and locations. The results demonstrate that the approach can detect 89.48% of hidden
corrosion with a training data utilization of only 20%, which can be further improved to
99.0% with 60–80% of the training data. The results presented in the aforementioned works
confirm the need to take into account artificial intelligence algorithms in the implementa-
tion of newly built SHM systems, and the wide range of presented applications indicates
the large scale and importance of the problem in the context of future development.
Aside from the previously mentioned aspects, the authors of this Special Issue placed
significant emphasis on subjects pertaining to the advancement of novel materials and
methodologies for their fabrication. In [8], the authors discuss the ultrasonic testing of
Ti6Al4V material produced using conventional and laser bed fusion methods, with a focus
on additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, due to a different production process
to standard methods, can significantly affect the properties of the materials produced,
which determines the need for a different approach to the utilized monitoring techniques.
The study aims to determine the acoustic properties of the material and develop an in-
spection scheme for adhesive joints in additive manufacturing components. The results
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13, 7617 3 of 4

reveal higher decibel drops in amplitude for connections made with additive technology
compared to conventional methods, providing valuable insights for testing adhesive joints
in additive manufacturing parts. The joints examination was also a subject of article [9],
where inseparable joints in machine and vehicle construction were investigated, particu-
larly focusing on hybrid joints combining adhesive bonding and sheet metal clinching. The
results showed that sheet metal clinching significantly increased the joint strength, with
shear strengths of 965 N for clinching and 476 N for adhesive bonding. The hybrid joints
exhibited even higher strengths, with average forces of 1085 N for fully cured joints and
1486 N for joints made immediately after adhesive application, indicating the improved
strength of the hybrid joint due to stabilization and better crosslinking conditions. Modern
materials, creating the possibility of changing properties as a result of the influence of
external factors and reconfiguration of their structure, became the subject of another work
published in the Special Issue. Paper [10] explores the evaluation of thin dielectric layers
in the THz frequency range using a tunable split-ring resonator-based metasurface. By
changing the geometry of the metasurface’s unit cells, the resonant frequency can be varied,
allowing for the assessment of a nearby thin dielectric layer. The study utilizes finite
element method simulations and establishes relationships between resonant frequencies
and dielectric parameters, providing more comprehensive information for the evaluation
of the material’s permittivity compared to non-tunable metasurfaces.
In conclusion, topics presented in the Special Issue titled “Structural Health Monitor-
ing: Latest Applications and Data Analysis” cover a wide range of areas not only related
to hardware solutions, including the implementation of sensing layers and new solutions
in material technology, but also, to a large extent, to the use of advanced data science
algorithms. The works cover a variety of applications, including nondestructive assess-
ment of historic brick walls, monitoring of dam safety, evaluation of electrical sheets using
magnetic Barkhausen noise, corrosion detection in aircraft structures, ultrasonic testing
of additively manufactured components, monitoring of hybrid joints in mechanical engi-
neering, study of tunable split-ring resonator-based metasurfaces for thin-film dielectric
structures assessment, detecting real corrosion cracks, determining the strength of tendons
in bridges, and assessing the thickness of concrete cover using microwave thermography.
The papers present new and novel methodologies, advanced and complex data processing
techniques, and original measurement approaches to increase the accuracy and reliability of
structural health monitoring and material evaluation. These works confirm the upcoming
trends in the development of SHM technologies, aimed at the development of the hardware
layer by introducing new materials and methods of acquisition, but above all, advanced
analysis of data. Bearing in mind the existing needs of the industry and the need for multi-
threaded system operation and online analysis of the examined objects state, continuous
and increasing progress in the SHM area should be expected in the coming years.

Funding: This research received no external funding.

Acknowledgments: We would like to gratefully acknowledge all of the authors, reviewers, and
academic editors for their contributions to the Special Issue “Structural Health Monitoring: Latest
Applications and Data Analysis”. We express our appreciation to all individuals and entities involved
in the creation of this distinctive publication for their assistance and support throughout the entirety
of the developmental phase. Finally, we would like to express our special gratitude to Leo Jin.
Conflicts of Interest: The author declares no conflict of interest.

References
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