Shape sensing of thin-walled structures: optimization of the inverse Finite Element Method

Structural health monitoring systems play a fundamental role in the maintenance of the vehicles integrity, thus providing a real-time monitoring of structures using shape sensing techniques. To this purpose, the inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM) is one of the most promising applied approaches. Using the local strain data obtained from in-situ sensors, iFEM is able to reconstruct the global displacement field of the examined structure. In this thesis, the influence on iFEM accuracy due to the employment of different interpolation schemes and computing methods will be evaluated. Moreover, the applicability of the inverse FEM and of related procedures will be assessed using simplified cases derived from common aerospace structures and subsequently, its efficiency will be evaluated comparing the obtained displacements to the ones generated from correspondent direct FEM analyses.