Damage detection in beam-like structures via frequency response function

In this paper, a method is developed to detect the damage’s occurrence and location in beams using frequency response function (FRF). This method is applied to a steel beam whose damage is created by reducing the bending stiffness of the beam’s element. Additionally, this study is conducted in three steps of structural health monitoring. Firstly, FRF data is collected in undamaged and damaged states. Secondly, the occurrence of the damage is evaluated by the correlation coefficient of the FRF. Finally, a frequency response function-based index (FRFBI), which is used for detecting the damaged location, is proposed from the results of vibration analysis for the beam simulated by ANSYS software. This study indicates that the FRF-based damage detection method gives the results with high accuracy in both the occurrence and location of the damage.