Application of elastic support assumption for accuracy improvement of crack detection in beams using firefly algorithm

In this study, elastic support assumption was used for crack detection in beams. At first, the model of beam was updated by assuming that boundary conditions of beam restrained by rotational and translational springs. Experimental modal data of intact beam are considered as input in this stage. An inverse problem was used to determine unknown values of support springs’. At the second stage, developed model for the beam at the first stage was then employed. Crack detection has been done using an inverse problem. Natural frequencies of cracked beam are considered as input in this stage while severity and location of crack are unknown. Inverse problems are solved by using firefly algorithm where this algorithm show suitable convergence rate. Efficiency of proposed method for single and multiple crack detection in beams using experimental data were compared with other studies. Results indicate that proposed method has better accuracy regarding crack severity and location detection.