Vibration Based Methods For Damage Detection In Structures

Vibration based damage detection methods are among the most popular and promising approaches for health monitoring of structures. In this work a critical review of different methods for damage detection methods of structures is presented. The theoretical bases of the most popular methods based on the changes in the modal properties of the structures are deduced. The review includes the modal displacements, the mode shape slopes, the modal curvatures and the strain energy methods. The efficiency of all these methods is compared by using a finite element analysis of intact and damaged beams. The methods are tested experimentally by using a scanning laser vibrometer to measure the modal properties of specially prepared composite beams with defects. All this methods are compared with the damage detection method based on the analysis of the Poincare maps of the motion of the structures). Conclusions concerning the advantages and the applicability of the considered methods are deduced.