Modal Analysis as a Non-Destructive Test for Structural Integrity.

Kurzfassung

The dynamic behavior of a structural system is influenced by damage to the structure. Extraction of reliable information from vibration measurement results about the position and extent of damage would transform modal analysis into an attractive tool for non-destructive assessment of structural integrity. The new technique proposed in this paper pursues this objective, with the prerequisite that a reliable mathematical model of the undamaged structure is available. Some results of numerical simulations and experimental tests performed on a cantilever beam are also presented. The information on damage position and extent is supplied with good accuracy. The results look very promising, particularly if the small amount of measured data is taken into account.