Civil and Structural Engineering, Computational Mechanics
18
Scopus Publications
129
Scholar Citations
7
Scholar h-index
5
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
A hybrid hierarchical health monitoring solution for autonomous detection, localization and quantification of damage in composite wind turbine blades for tinyML applications Nikhil Holsamudrkar, Shirsendu Sikdar, Akshay Prakash Kalgutkar, Sauvik Banerjee, Rakesh Mishra Scientific Reports, 2025 Composites are widely used in wind turbine blades due to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and operational flexibilities. However, wind turbines often operate in harsh environmental conditions that can lead to various types of damage, including abrasion, corrosion, fractures, cracks, and delamination. Early detection through structural health monitoring (SHM) is essential for maintaining the efficient and reliable operation of wind turbines, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs, and optimizing energy output. Further, Damage detection and localization are challenging in curved composites due to their anisotropic nature, edge reflections, and generation of higher harmonics. Previous work has focused on damage localization using deep-learning approaches. However, these models are computationally expensive, and multiple models need to be trained independently for various tasks such as damage classification, localization, and sizing identification. Also, the data generated due to AE waveforms at a minimum sampling rate of 1MSPS is huge, requiring tinyML enabled hardware for real time ML models which can reduce the size of cloud storage required. TinyML hardware can run ML models efficiently with low power consumption. This paper presents a Hybrid Hierarchical Machine-Learning Model (HHMLM) that leverages acoustic emission (AE) data to identify, classify, and locate different types of damage using the single unified model. The AE data is collected using a single sensor, with damage simulated by artificial AE sources (Pencil lead break) and low-velocity impacts. Additionally, simulated abrasion on the blade’s leading edge resembles environmental wear. This HHMLM model achieved 96.4% overall accuracy with less computation time than 83.8% for separate conventional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models. The developed SHM solution provides a more effective and practical solution for in-service monitoring of wind turbine blades, particularly in wind farm settings, with the potential for future wireless sensors with tiny ML applications.
A hybrid theoretical–numerical–experimental framework for robust health monitoring of thin-walled hollow composite members using guided waves Akshay Prakash Kalgutkar, Shirsendu Sikdar, Sauvik Banerjee, Karl Walton, Rakesh Mishra Scientific Reports, 2025 Abstract Thin-walled hollow composite members (HCM) are extensively employed in aerospace and automotive industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and design flexibility. This study introduces a hybrid -numerical–experimental framework for robust detection and characterisation of barely visible damage in HCM using guided waves (GW). It focuses on assessing surface abrasion and hairline cracks, two common yet challenging damage types encountered in the field. A semi-analytical finite element (SAFE) formulation is developed for the dispersion analysis alongside numerical simulations using finite element software COMSOL Multiphysics ® , and experimental validation is performed to ensure accurate and reliable results. The study focuses on GW propagation and scattering behaviour under varying damage scenarios, exploring the effects of damage size, position, and its offset on wave features. Parametric analyses show significant variations in wave characteristics such as group velocity, amplitude, and mode features. A waveform and statistical approach incorporating continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and energy enables precise damage classification. Results show that abrasion-induced damages cause substantial changes in GW features in terms of DIs and statistical parameters, while hairline cracks marginally affect the damage indices and wave features, aiding in distinguishing between different damage types. These findings contribute to the development of robust damage identification algorithms for structural health monitoring, providing valuable insights for optimising the maintenance and performance of composite structures in critical engineering environments, ensuring safety and operational efficiency.
Buckling analysis of perforated stiffened composite plates with interfacial debonding under hygrothermal and in-plane edge loadings Akshay Prakash Kalgutkar, Sauvik Banerjee Journal of Composite Materials, 2025 Engineered composite structures often incorporate stiffeners to enhance the strength of perforated panels without significantly increasing their mass. However, interfacial debonding between the stiffener and skin can compromise structural integrity under external loads, potentially leading to failure. This study focuses on the buckling behaviour of stiffened perforated laminated plates with interfacial debonding, subjected to non-uniform edge loading and environmental conditions. A computationally efficient reduced-order finite element (FE) formulation has been devised using the 2D plate and 1D beam elements to minimise the computational cost. The plate and stiffener flange are modelled using a 9-noded heterosis element to address shear-locking, while a 3-noded isoparametric beam element represents the stiffener web and ribs. To account for stiffener torsional behaviour, a torsion correction factor is incorporated into the stiffener web and ribs formulation. Interfacial debonding is simulated by introducing a dummy node with an independent displacement field for the stiffener flange, connected by the fictitious spring between the plate and the penetrated flange nodes, to prevent nodal interpenetration. Displacement continuity is enforced in the bonded regions to maintain compatibility between the stiffener and plate displacement fields. The study employs a dynamic approach to evaluate buckling loads under two boundary conditions, considering operational and environmental effects. Additionally, hygrothermal-dependent material properties are considered to incorporate the effect of hygrothermal loading on the elastic behaviour of the material. A preliminary investigation identifies an optimal loading pattern and cutout geometry for enhanced buckling performance. In contrast to prior research, this work examines various stiffener configurations to evaluate the stability of perforated plates under non-uniform edge loading and determines the configuration that improves buckling capacity. The analysis indicates that the circular cutout panel incorporating the SP-3 stiffener configuration demonstrates a 42.86% improvement in buckling resistance compared to the SP-2 stiffener design. Furthermore, debonding significantly reduces the buckling capacity of the CCSS panel by 20.14%, especially at greater stiffener depths of d s /b s = 7 under hygrothermal conditions. Moreover, larger cutout sizes exacerbate stability reductions of the CCSS panel by 2.70% due to debonding under the reference hygrothermal state. In contrast, debonding under hygrothermal conditions results in a 38.44% reduction in the buckling strength of the smaller cutout SSCC panel, highlighting the impact of restraint conditions. Therefore, this study serves as a foundation for optimising designs to ensure stability, durability, and cost-effectiveness in demanding operational scenarios.
Ultrasonic Guided Wave-Based Structural Health Monitoring for Early Detection and Localization of Multiple Damages in Composite Wind-Turbine Blades AKSHAY PRAKASH KALGUTKAR, SHIRSENDU SIKDAR, SAUVIK BANERJEE Structural Health Monitoring 2025 Ensuring Mobility and Autonomy with Sustainability Proceedings of the 15th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring Iwshm 2025, 2025 Wind energy plays a pivotal role in the transition to renewable energy sources. However, the reliability of wind turbine blades (WTBs) is often compromised by damage. This urges the increasing need for advanced Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques to ensure the durability and reliability of WTBs. The current study investigates the application of the Ultrasonic Guided Wave (UGW) technique as a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method for the early detection and localisation of multiple damages in composite WTBs. In this research, a network of three piezoelectric patches is strategically positioned on the blade’s surface to excite guided waves and capture the scattered signals. The study focuses on localising the damages, such as impact damage, surface cracks and their combination. Finite Element (FE) modelling is utilised to simulate wave propagation in the complex composite WTB. A novel damage index mapping approach, based on signal energy difference and time-of-flight (ToF) analysis, is employed to approximate defect locations. The proposed methodology effectively demonstrates the capability to detect and locate the various damage types with significant accuracy. This research contributes to the advancement of intelligent SHM systems for wind energy applications, facilitating autonomous, data-driven maintenance strategies for efficient damage assessment.
Influence of local stiffeners and non-uniform edge loads on the stability characteristics of composite laminates with a circular opening T. Rajanna, Asha Kumar, Sasha Azimi, P. K. Ravindra, Akshay Prakash Kalgutkar Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines, 2025 Perforated panels are commonly used in thin-walled structural components, but they are prone to stress concentration near free edges, which can lead to delamination or premature failure at lower stress levels. To mitigate such failures, strategically arranged stiffeners around the cutouts can provide effective reinforcement. This study investigates the influence of stiffener arrangements around circular cutouts and the impact of non-uniform edge load distributions on the buckling behavior of composite panels. A robust and computationally efficient finite element (FE) formulation is developed to facilitate this analysis. The research incorporates a 9-noded heterosis plate element and a compatible 3-noded beam element, accounting for shear deformation and rotary inertia in both the plate and stiffeners. Additionally, due to the non-uniform stress distribution in the perforated panel, a unique dynamic technique has been implemented to account for the stability performance by employing two sets of boundary conditions. A novel mesh configuration is employed to accurately position stiffeners around the cutouts, with its reliability confirmed through validation against existing literature. Key parameters such as cutout size, layup scheme, boundary conditions, and panel aspect ratios are analyzed, with results emphasizing the significant role of stiffener depth in enhancing panel buckling behavior. The study also examines the effects of various stiffener eccentricities on the structural response.
Free vibration analysis of hygrothermally stable stiffened composite plates with plate-stiffener interfacial debonding Akshay Prakash Kalgutkar, Sauvik Banerjee Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, 2024 Stiffeners are frequently utilized in many engineering projects because they boost strength while adding only a small amount of weight to the overall structure. The environments that the stiffened composite constructions are typically exposed to are harsh, which can result in damage like interlayer delamination and debond at the plate-stiffener interface, which can cause catastrophic failure. As a result, it is necessary to examine these structures’ dynamic behavior in addition to their stability performance. The current study attempts to investigate the free vibration response of stiffened composite plates with plate-stiffener interfacial debonding under hygrothermal circumstances using a robust finite element (FE) model. The skin and stiffener flange are simulated in the current work using a 9-noded heterosis element to prevent the shear-locking issue. Additionally, to considerably enhance computational performance, the stiffener web is formulated as a 3-noded isoparametric beam element with the torsion correction factor. Additionally, a dummy node is created to represent the debond, and a fictitious spring is added to stop the nodes from interpenetrating one another. Three schemes of hygrothermally stable laminates (θ/(90- θ))s, (22.5/−67.5)s and (77.5/−12.5)s are considered to identify the stiffened plate configuration with improved free vibration characteristics. Further, extensive parametric analyses are conducted on the obtained stiffened plate with improved performance in a hygrothermal environment by considering debond at the skin-stiffener interface. The vibrational behavior of the debonded plate is shown to be significantly more affected by moisture than by temperature. Additionally, the debond has a more obvious impact on the vibration characteristics in the plate with a centrally attached stiffener than in the plate with an eccentricity attached stiffener. As a result, the established FE formulation is anticipated to be trustworthy and computationally effective while effectively analyzing the debonded stiffened panel’s free vibration behavior in a hygrothermal environment.
Conceptual Design and Sizing of a Solar Powered Quad-Rotor Fixed Wing Hybrid UAV for exploration over Mars Arnav Kalgutkar, Pranav Gupta, Rajkumar S. Pant AIAA Aviation Forum and Ascend 2024, 2024 This paper presents a comprehensive conceptual design for a solar-powered hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specifically tailored for Martian exploration and is a follow up to a previous study aiming to improve model accuracy and vehicle range. The proposed configuration combines quadcopter vertical take-off and landing capabilities with fixed wings for horizontal propulsion, supported by solar energy harvesting. The study utilizes a design methodology derived from a literature review of a similar UAV configuration on Earth, adapting it to the unique challenges and environmental conditions of Mars. Additionally, simulation parameters are modified to accurately represent Martian conditions, including the incorporation of an illumination model and solar cell methodologies. The design process involves the generation and evaluation of multiple design points based on desired mass, payload capacity, and endurance, offering a range of feasible options for Martian UAV missions. The selected configuration has four motors in a quadcopter configuration for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) along with fixed wings and a single motor for horizontal propulsion. Energy is harvested using body-mounted solar cells over the duration of a Martian day to enable high endurance flight. The literature review is conducted to obtain a design methodology (albeit without solar power) for a similar configuration of vehicle for earth. This methodology is implemented and the code is validated. Design points are generated and evaluated for feasibility. Several vehicle configurations are presented based on the desired mass, payload capacity, endurance and assumed irradiance threshold. Transition between VTOL and fixed wing flight is modelled and simulations are performed for different mission profiles to study battery State of Charge versus time.
EFFECT OF DEBONDING ON GUIDED WAVE PROPAGATION IN STIFFENED COMPOSITE PLATE UNDER OPERATIONAL LOADING AND HYGROTHERMAL ENVIRONMENT Compdyn Proceedings, 2023
Buckling analysis of perforated stiffened composite plates with interfacial debonding under hygrothermal and in-plane edge loadings AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Journal of Composite Materials 59 (16), 1939-1964 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 2
Influence of local stiffeners and non-uniform edge loads on the stability characteristics of composite laminates with a circular opening T Rajanna, A Kumar, S Azimi, PK Ravindra, AP Kalgutkar Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines 53 (6), 4185-4199 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 1
A hybrid hierarchical health monitoring solution for autonomous detection, localization and quantification of damage in composite wind turbine blades for tinyML applications N Holsamudrkar, S Sikdar, AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee, R Mishra Scientific Reports 15 (1), 12380 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 6
A hybrid theoretical–numerical–experimental framework for robust health monitoring of thin-walled hollow composite members using guided waves AP Kalgutkar, S Sikdar, S Banerjee, K Walton, R Mishra Scientific Reports 15 (1), 12198 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 6
Free vibration analysis of hygrothermally stable stiffened composite plates with plate-stiffener interfacial debonding AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 31 (29), 11337-11351 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 9
Influence of stiffeners on the buckling behaviour of composite panels subjected to non-uniform edge loads S Azimi, T Rajanna, K Asha, PK Ravindra, AP Kalgutkar Latin American Journal of Solids and Structures 21 (8), e557 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Interaction of ultrasonic guided waves with interfacial debonding in a stiffened composite plate under variable temperature and operational conditions AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Ultrasonics 142, 107378 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 17
Buckling behaviour of the stiffened hygrothermally stable composite plates with interfacial debond subjected to environmental and operational loading conditions: AP Kalgutkar … AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Acta Mechanica 235 (6), 3915-3931 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Guided Wave based Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Wind Turbine Blades S Sikdar, AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Proceedings of the Annual British Conference on Non-Destructive Testing 2024 … , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 3
Effect of elliptical cutouts on buckling and vibration characteristics of stiffened composite panels under non-uniform edge loads AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee, T Rajanna Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines 51 (9), 5340-5354 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 21
Stability performance of perforated stiffened laminated composite plates under the influence of environmental and operational loading conditions using FE approach AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics 23 (09), 2350098 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 9
Effect of Debonding on Guided Wave Propagation in Stiffened Composite Plate Under Operational Loading and Hygrothermal Environment AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee 9th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Methods in Structural … , 2023 2023.0
Semi-analytical finite element method for the analysis of guided wave dispersion in the pre-stressed composite plates AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee ASPS Conference Proceedings 1 (5), 1413-1421 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 14
Dynamic instability analysis of perforated stiffened laminated composite panels subjected to non-uniform in-plane edge load under hygrothermal condition AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Thin-Walled Structures 181, 109961 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 16
Optimum arrangement of stiffener on the buckling behaviour of stiffened composite panels with reinforced elliptical cutouts subjected to non-uniform edge load AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee, T Rajanna Steel and Composite Structures, 427-446 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 13
Stability and Vibration Behaviour of Debonded Stiffened Composite Laminated Panels with Cutouts Under the Influence of Hygrothermal Loading AP Kalgutkar 66th International Congress of Indian Society of Theoretical and Applied … , 2021 2021.0
Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Material Plate NI Narayanan, S Banerjee, AP Kalgutkar, T Rajanna Recent Advances in Computational Mechanics and Simulations: Volume-I … , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 3
Deflection and Modal Analysis of the Square Plate using ABAQUS CAE N Holsamudrakar, AP Kalgutkar, N Pisal Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , 2019 2019.0
Vibration and Buckling Behaviour of Quasi-isotropic laminated plates with and without cutout subjected to partial and concentrated in-plane edge loads AP Kalgutkar, T Rajanna B. M. S College of Engineering , 2018 2018.0
Guided Wave Propagation Based Assessment of Thin-Walled Hollow Composite Members AP Kalgutkar, S Sikdar, S Banerjee, K Walton, R Mishra Available at SSRN 4925423 , 0
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Effect of elliptical cutouts on buckling and vibration characteristics of stiffened composite panels under non-uniform edge loads AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee, T Rajanna Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines 51 (9), 5340-5354 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 21
Interaction of ultrasonic guided waves with interfacial debonding in a stiffened composite plate under variable temperature and operational conditions AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Ultrasonics 142, 107378 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 17
Dynamic instability analysis of perforated stiffened laminated composite panels subjected to non-uniform in-plane edge load under hygrothermal condition AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Thin-Walled Structures 181, 109961 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 16
Semi-analytical finite element method for the analysis of guided wave dispersion in the pre-stressed composite plates AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee ASPS Conference Proceedings 1 (5), 1413-1421 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 14
Optimum arrangement of stiffener on the buckling behaviour of stiffened composite panels with reinforced elliptical cutouts subjected to non-uniform edge load AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee, T Rajanna Steel and Composite Structures, 427-446 , 2022 2022.0 Citations: 13
Free vibration analysis of hygrothermally stable stiffened composite plates with plate-stiffener interfacial debonding AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 31 (29), 11337-11351 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 9
Stability performance of perforated stiffened laminated composite plates under the influence of environmental and operational loading conditions using FE approach AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics 23 (09), 2350098 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 9
A hybrid hierarchical health monitoring solution for autonomous detection, localization and quantification of damage in composite wind turbine blades for tinyML applications N Holsamudrkar, S Sikdar, AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee, R Mishra Scientific Reports 15 (1), 12380 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 6
A hybrid theoretical–numerical–experimental framework for robust health monitoring of thin-walled hollow composite members using guided waves AP Kalgutkar, S Sikdar, S Banerjee, K Walton, R Mishra Scientific Reports 15 (1), 12198 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 6
Buckling behaviour of the stiffened hygrothermally stable composite plates with interfacial debond subjected to environmental and operational loading conditions: AP Kalgutkar … AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Acta Mechanica 235 (6), 3915-3931 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 5
Influence of stiffeners on the buckling behaviour of composite panels subjected to non-uniform edge loads S Azimi, T Rajanna, K Asha, PK Ravindra, AP Kalgutkar Latin American Journal of Solids and Structures 21 (8), e557 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 4
Guided Wave based Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Wind Turbine Blades S Sikdar, AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Proceedings of the Annual British Conference on Non-Destructive Testing 2024 … , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 3
Vibration Analysis of Functionally Graded Material Plate NI Narayanan, S Banerjee, AP Kalgutkar, T Rajanna Recent Advances in Computational Mechanics and Simulations: Volume-I … , 2020 2020.0 Citations: 3
Buckling analysis of perforated stiffened composite plates with interfacial debonding under hygrothermal and in-plane edge loadings AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee Journal of Composite Materials 59 (16), 1939-1964 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 2
Influence of local stiffeners and non-uniform edge loads on the stability characteristics of composite laminates with a circular opening T Rajanna, A Kumar, S Azimi, PK Ravindra, AP Kalgutkar Mechanics Based Design of Structures and Machines 53 (6), 4185-4199 , 2025 2025.0 Citations: 1
Effect of Debonding on Guided Wave Propagation in Stiffened Composite Plate Under Operational Loading and Hygrothermal Environment AP Kalgutkar, S Banerjee 9th ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Methods in Structural … , 2023 2023.0
Stability and Vibration Behaviour of Debonded Stiffened Composite Laminated Panels with Cutouts Under the Influence of Hygrothermal Loading AP Kalgutkar 66th International Congress of Indian Society of Theoretical and Applied … , 2021 2021.0
Deflection and Modal Analysis of the Square Plate using ABAQUS CAE N Holsamudrakar, AP Kalgutkar, N Pisal Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , 2019 2019.0
Vibration and Buckling Behaviour of Quasi-isotropic laminated plates with and without cutout subjected to partial and concentrated in-plane edge loads AP Kalgutkar, T Rajanna B. M. S College of Engineering , 2018 2018.0
Guided Wave Propagation Based Assessment of Thin-Walled Hollow Composite Members AP Kalgutkar, S Sikdar, S Banerjee, K Walton, R Mishra Available at SSRN 4925423 , 0
