Structural damage detection using the transformation matrix

A method for locating and estimating structural damage in two and three-dimensional analytical models of buildings is presented. Damage is defined in terms of changes in elements stiffness. Since the geometrical transformation matrix used to obtain the condensed stiffness matrix of a structure can be estimated, for the damaged state, from the one corresponding to the non-damaged state with an iterative scheme, it is possible to detect structural damage by comparing changes on structural dynamic parameters, modal shapes and vibration frequencies with their defining properties. The application and accuracy of the method is illustrated by means of numerical analyses of building models.