Wavelet packet based damage identification of beam structures

Most of vibration-based damage detection methods require the modal properties that are obtained from measured signals through the system identification techniques. However, the modal properties such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are not such a good sensitive indication of structural damage. The wavelet packet transform (WPT) is a mathematical tool that has a special advantage over the traditional Fourier transform in analyzing non-stationary signals. It adopts redundant basis functions and hence can provide an arbitrary time-frequency resolution. In this study, a damage detection index called wavelet packet energy rate index (WPERI), is proposed for the damage detection of beam structures. The measured dynamic signals are decomposed into the wavelet packet components and the wavelet energy rate index is computed to indicate the structural damage. The proposed damage identification method is firstly illustrated with a simulated simply supported beam and the identified damage is satisfactory with assumed damage. Afterward, the method is applied to the tested steel beams with three damage scenarios in the laboratory. Despite the noise is present for real measurement data, the identified damage pattern is comparable with the tests. Both simulated and experimental studies demonstrated that the WPT-based energy rate index is a good candidate index that is sensitive to structural local damage.