Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios

This paper focuses on optimizing sensor placement in structures for load monitoring applications. Such applications rely on sensor data to track changes in the structure. Monitoring accuracy relies on proper sensor placement. The goal is to maximize load monitoring accuracy under multiple loading sc...

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Main Authors: Wacław Kuś, Waldemar Mucha, Iyasu Tafese Jiregna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7463
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author Wacław Kuś
Waldemar Mucha
Iyasu Tafese Jiregna
author_facet Wacław Kuś
Waldemar Mucha
Iyasu Tafese Jiregna
author_sort Wacław Kuś
collection DOAJ
description This paper focuses on optimizing sensor placement in structures for load monitoring applications. Such applications rely on sensor data to track changes in the structure. Monitoring accuracy relies on proper sensor placement. The goal is to maximize load monitoring accuracy under multiple loading scenarios while the number of sensors is kept smaller than the number of load cases. Building on prior work in which machine learning models predicted loads using only sensor readings without information on load location, this study continues that approach. It demonstrates that prediction models perform better when sensor networks are optimized. The novelty lies in a newly formulated objective function, allowing for optimization of sensor number, positions, and orientations across multiple load cases and measurement types. The goal is to minimize the differences between maximal responses of the structure and detected responses by the sensors (for all possible load cases). The method is validated on a numerical model of a composite structure with 1–3 sensors under seven different load cases. Load predictions from sensors in optimized locations are compared to predictions from measurements of randomly positioned sensors. Statistical comparison proved that the developed methods and algorithms allow us to significantly reduce the prediction errors.
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id doaj-art-119c986b04cb4e8490880575bc9efc24
institution Kabale University
issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-119c986b04cb4e8490880575bc9efc242025-08-20T03:50:17ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011513746310.3390/app15137463Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case ScenariosWacław Kuś0Waldemar Mucha1Iyasu Tafese Jiregna2Department of Computational Mechanics and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Computational Mechanics and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandDepartment of Computational Mechanics and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, PolandThis paper focuses on optimizing sensor placement in structures for load monitoring applications. Such applications rely on sensor data to track changes in the structure. Monitoring accuracy relies on proper sensor placement. The goal is to maximize load monitoring accuracy under multiple loading scenarios while the number of sensors is kept smaller than the number of load cases. Building on prior work in which machine learning models predicted loads using only sensor readings without information on load location, this study continues that approach. It demonstrates that prediction models perform better when sensor networks are optimized. The novelty lies in a newly formulated objective function, allowing for optimization of sensor number, positions, and orientations across multiple load cases and measurement types. The goal is to minimize the differences between maximal responses of the structure and detected responses by the sensors (for all possible load cases). The method is validated on a numerical model of a composite structure with 1–3 sensors under seven different load cases. Load predictions from sensors in optimized locations are compared to predictions from measurements of randomly positioned sensors. Statistical comparison proved that the developed methods and algorithms allow us to significantly reduce the prediction errors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7463optimizationsensor placementstructural health monitoringfinite element methodgenetic algorithmartificial neural network
spellingShingle Wacław Kuś
Waldemar Mucha
Iyasu Tafese Jiregna
Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios
Applied Sciences
optimization
sensor placement
structural health monitoring
finite element method
genetic algorithm
artificial neural network
title Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios
title_full Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios
title_fullStr Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios
title_short Optimization of Sensor Positions and Orientations for Multiple Load Case Scenarios
title_sort optimization of sensor positions and orientations for multiple load case scenarios
topic optimization
sensor placement
structural health monitoring
finite element method
genetic algorithm
artificial neural network
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7463
work_keys_str_mv AT wacławkus optimizationofsensorpositionsandorientationsformultipleloadcasescenarios
AT waldemarmucha optimizationofsensorpositionsandorientationsformultipleloadcasescenarios
AT iyasutafesejiregna optimizationofsensorpositionsandorientationsformultipleloadcasescenarios