An effective method for damage assessment based on limited measured locations in skeletal structures

Abstract

This article proposes a new damage detection method using Modal Test Analysis Model and artificial neural networks. A challenge in damage detection problems is lack of measured degrees of freedom, as well as limitations of attached sensors. Modal Test Analysis Model has been used in order to estimate unmeasured degrees of freedom. An experimental cantilever beam was used to show Modal Test Analysis Model’s efficiency in estimation of unmeasured mode shapes. To solve the inverse problem of damage detection, mode shapes estimated by Modal Test Analysis Model were used as inputs, and characteristics of the damage served as outputs of the artificial neural network. The sensitivity analysis carried out for each example showing the performance of artificial neural network after mode shape expansion was efficiently improved. Three numerical examples for plane and space truss structures are considered, in order to verify effectiveness of the proposed method. Results demonstrate a high accuracy of Modal Test Analysis Model and artificial neural network for structural damage detection.