An experimental study for damage detection using a hexagonal truss

This paper. describes the damage detection study results using a partially instrumented laboratory truss that was tested in several damage conditions. After evaluating several existing model refinement and model reduction/expansion techniques, a two-step damage detection approach was developed for large structures with limited instrumentation. A general area of structural damage is first identified and, subsequently, a specific damaged structural component is located. This approach takes advantage of two different model refinement methods (optimal-update and design sensitivity) and two different model size matching methods (model reduction and eigenvector expansion), performance of the proposed approach was demonstrated with testing and analysis of a ten-bay hexagonal truss structure. This technology can be applied to structural inspection or health monitoring of spacecraft, aircraft, offshore platforms, oil tankers, bridges, and buildings. (C) 2000 The Boeing Company 2000. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.