Non-model-based damage identification of plates using measured mode shapes

Mode shapes (MSs) have been extensively used to detect structural damage. This paper presents a new non-model-based damage identification method that uses measured MSs to identify damage in plates. A MS damage index (MSDI) is proposed to identify damage near regions with consistently high values of MSDIs associated with MSs of different modes. A MS of a pseudo-undamaged plate can be constructed for damage identification using a polynomial of a properly determined order that fits the corresponding MS of a damaged plate, if the associated undamaged plate is geometrically smooth and made of materials that have no stiffness and mass discontinuities. It is shown that comparing a MS of a damaged plate with that of a pseudo-undamaged plate is better for damage identification than with that of an undamaged plate. Effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method for identifying damage of different positions and areas are numerically investigated using different MSs; effects of crucial factors that determine effectiveness of the proposed method are also numerically investigated. Damage in the form of a machined thickness reduction area was introduced to an aluminum plate; it was successfully identified by the proposed method using measured MSs of the damaged plate.