Smart Structures and Systems

Volume 32, Number 4, 2023, pages 219-233

DOI: 10.12989/sss.2023.32.4.219

A fast and simplified crack width quantification method via deep Q learning

Xiong Peng, Kun Zhou, Bingxu Duan, Xingu Zhong, Chao Zhao and Tianyu Zhang

Abstract

Crack width is an important indicator to evaluate the health condition of the concrete structure. The crack width is measured by manual using crack width gauge commonly, which is time-consuming and laborious. In this paper, we have proposed a fast and simplified crack width quantification method via deep Q learning and geometric calculation. Firstly, the crack edge is extracted by using U-Net network and edge detection operator. Then, the intelligent decision of is made by the deep Q learning model. Further, the geometric calculation method based on endpoint and curvature extreme point detection is proposed. Finally, a case study is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, achieving high precision in the real crack width quantification.

Key Words

concrete crack; crack width measurement; curvature extreme point; deep Q learning; geometric simplification

Address

"(1) Hunan University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan Road, Yuhu District, Xiangtan, China; (2) Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Structures for Wind Resistance and Vibration Control & School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan Road, Yuhu District, Xiangtan, China."