A Baseline Free Method for Multiple Damage Identification and Localization using the Roving Mode Shape Response

The identification of structural systems with unknown vibration signature response is still a challenging issue which has been addressed by many reviewers. The current sensor technology states that the sensor position should be very close to the damaged element in order to identify and localize the damage. The primary goal of this research is to present a baseline-free method using the roving mode shape response based, multiple damage localization in a cantilever beam. Consequently, the damage location indicator is based on the roving mode shape approach (DLRA). The theoretical development is carried out on a cantilever beam, a finite element model. The different cases for multiple damages i.e. 2 elements damage, 3 elements damage and 5 elements to be damage, at a time, have been modelled on the structural member. The system response, for the healthy and damaged structural systems, has been determined using the roving mode shape approach. Further, the algorithm has been developed for multiple damage identification and localization using MATLAB software. The combined mass and stiffness damage, as well as only the mass change damage, both cases were considered. From the results, it was found that the proposed method can reliably identify the damage and its position. The method will also be helpful while keeping the sensor’s position very close to the damage. The novelty of this method is that it uses the response which is basically a field output and no prior assumptions have been made at the damaged element's location.