A Computational Nondestructive Evaluation Algorithm Combining Self-Evolving Parameterization and Multi-Objective Optimization for Quantitative Damage Characterization

A self-evolving parameterization approach for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of damage in structural components is presented and numerically evaluated. Focused herein on problems relating to characterizing an unknown quantity of localized changes in properties, the adaptive approach utilizes the substantial solution diversity that is uniquely provided by multi-objective optimization to iteratively build up the parameterization and accurately characterize all localized property changes with the minimum dimensional parameterization. Through simulated test problems based on the characterization of damage within plates, the NDE approach with self-evolving parameterization is shown to provide an accurate and efficient process for the solution of inverse characterization problems.