DAMAGE DETECTION IN FLEXIBLE STRUCTURES

A method is developed for the detection of the existence and location of structural damage. Structural damage is considered to be at the macroscopic level. The detection is carried out in two parts. In the first part, the eigensolution of the structure is identified using a modal parameter identification technique and the system response. The identified eigensolution is then used together with properties of the eigenvalue problem to detect the damaged components. A sensitivity analysis is performed, where the effects of having errors in the mathematical model, and having inaccuracies in the modal identification procedure, are analyzed. In the event of failure of several parts or components a search procedure is proposed together with the detection process. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.