Modeling and detection of damage using smeared crack model

A system identification technique based on the frequency changes is proposed to enhance the efficiency of the damage detection in the flexural structures. For this, an optimization scheme originally suggested by Hassiotis (1993) is modified to include the changes of the mode vector. In addition, a smeared crack model of a beam element is also developed to identify the small-scale damage. The two models developed in this study are incorporated into the optimization scheme which is readily available in the commercial packages. Comparisons with numerical and experimental tests are performed to verify the applicability and advantage of the models. Special interest is focused on the damage detection of the symmetric structures and the results are in good agreement with both numerical prediction and experimental data available. Finally, future works on the system identification is discussed in detail.