A survey to control unvertainties by comprehensive monitoring of load-carrying structures

This paper gives a general view on some aspects of the influence of uncertainty in model-based monitoring of loadcarrying structures. The advantages and relevance of monitoring for the prediction of reliability will be clarified and the difference between uncertainty and reliability is discussed. Solving inverse Problems is a particular challenge in monitoring systems. Therefore, different categories of inverse problems are discussed. A generally valid extended difference equation, which describes the transfer behavior of the structure, will be derived as the basis for digital signal processing of model-based monitoring. This equation also considers changes in the structures dynamic properties, e.g. due to damage or temperature. With this equation, the influence of uncertainty due to measurement noise to the functionability of monitoring is discussed and some possibilities are shown to control this uncertainty when determining ideal sensor-positions for monitoring.