New hybrid FE-PSO-CGAs sensitivity base technique for damage detection of laminated composite beams

A new hybrid method for damage detection of laminated composite beams is presented. Based on first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) the governing equations of the beam are obtained. Finite element method is adopted to discretize the equations. Considering damaged element(s) frequencies of the damaged beam are calculated. Considering the frequencies as a measured data, the proposed optimization technique is applied to detect the element(s). In the method, a continuous genetic algorithm (CGA) is improved by sensitivity modal analysis and particle swarm optimization (PSO) techniques. The added PSO and the sensitivity analysis operators improve the generated population before and after CGA, respectively in conjunction with an embedded micro search operation in genetic algorithm to reduce the search space. Applicability, efficiency and robustness of the proposed algorithm in detecting the location and extent of damages in presence and absence of the PSO optimization method for different examples are demonstrated.