A Multilevel Isolation Forrest and Convolutional Neural Network Algorithm for Impact Characterization on Composite Structures

In this paper, a Deep Learning approach is proposed to classify impact data based on the type of impact (Hard or Soft Impacts), via obtaining voltage signals from Piezo-Electric sensors, mounted on a composite panel. The data is processed further to be classified based on their energy, location and material. Minimalistic and Automated feature extraction and selection is achieved via a deep learning algorithm. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are employed to extract and select important features from the voltage data. Once features are selected the impacts, are classified based on either, Hard Impacts (simulated from steel impactors in a lab setting), Soft Impacts (simulated from silicon impactors in a lab setting) and their corresponding location and energy levels. Furthermore, in order to use the right data for training they are obtained from the signals as anomalies via Isolation Forests (IF) to speed up the process. Using this approach Hard and Soft Impacts, their corresponding locations and respective energies are identified with high accuracy.