Depth estimation of surface cracks based on the measurement of crack opening deformation and numerical–experimental iteration

We propose a new method to estimate the depth of a surface crack based on the measurement of crack opening deformation (COD) by using strain gauges. Through finite-element (FE) analysis of several surface cracks with different crack depth, it was found that the distribution of crack depth along the crack line can be approximated by multiplying a certain proportional α to the distribution of COD per unit nominal strain (normalized COD). The strain gauges are cemented just on the crack line and at a reference position, and the normalized CODs are measured under the impact load excited by hammer punching. The surface crack depth is estimated from the normalized COD measurements by a numerical–experimental iteration method based on FE analysis. The estimated distribution of the surface crack depth along the crack line shows good agreement with the shape of a real crack depth.