Scalar and vector time series methods for vibration based damage diagnosis in a scale aircraft skeleton structure

A comparative assessment of several scalar and vector statistical time series methods for vibration based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is presented via their application to a laboratory scale aircraft skeleton structure in which different damage scenarios correspond to the loosening of different bolts. A concise overview of scalar and vector methods, that is methods using scalar or vector signals, statistics, and corresponding models, is presented. The methods are further classified as non-parametric or parametric and response-only or excitation-response. The effectiveness of the methods for both damage detection and identification is assessed via various test cases corresponding to different damage scenarios. The results of the study reveal various facets of the methods and confirm the global damage diagnosis capability and the effectiveness of both scalar and vector statistical time series methods for SHM.