A Two Step Damage Prognosis Method for Beam-Like Truss Structures

Abstract

In this study, a two step damage prognosis method is proposed for beam-like truss structures via combining modal curvature change (MCC) with modal strain energy change ratio (MSECR). Changes in the modal curvature and the elemental strain energy are selected as the indicator of damage prognosis. Different damage elements with different damage degrees are simulated. In the first step, the finite element method is used to model a beam-like truss structure and the displacement modes are got. The damage region is estimated by the MCC of top and bottom chords of a beam-like truss structure. In the second step, the elemental MSECR in the damage region is calculated and the maximum MSECR element is deemed as the damage element. The simulation results show that this method can accurately locate the damage in the beam-like truss structure.