| Structural damage identification techniques have received significant consideration from across the engineering communities. The objectives of the study are to benchmark the strain energy methods and to understand the dependency of damage identification on modal parameters (frequencies, mode shapes), modification factors (Elastic modulus, density of material, cross sectional area of the structure), boundary conditions (Clamped, simply supported), damage severity (medium or macro damage) and location, and methods used (modal or elemental strain energy methods) and any combination of the above. A range of damage cases were studied through simulation of finite element data, and strain energy methods, to understand the behavior of damage, its identification, and possibility of using a modification parameter to simulate damage in structures. From the study, it was found that, by strain energy methods, the results vary considerably basing on the boundary conditions as constraints play significant role on damage detection. Exploring strain energy methods, by using limited number of modes and modal parameters, the damage existence, location and severity were found by mapping the strain energy levels of a two dimensional plate. |
