This paper suggests a method for vibration sensor placement in Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) composite structures in small structure applications where the measuring instrument weight can affect the vibrational characteristics. Considering the actual weight of the beam and the actual weight of the vibrational sensor and connecting cables. We performed a set of structural vibration experiments in various sensor positions and used the experimental results as a reference through the inverse problems technique. And Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for numerical modelling, in which the sensors are modelled as an additional mass on the beam and the virtual springs are modelled with variable rigidity. We employ the Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization Algorithm (TLBO) to identify the optimal sensor placement location. The results indicate that this application can explain the effect of sensor placement. In a second application, we consider the problem of the cracked beam and the prediction of damage severity and crack depth with the help of a formulation for crack location. Results of this Application show that the proposed approach can serve in solving both problems
