Crack Investigation of Rotating Cantilever Beam by Fractal Dimension Analysis

Cracks reduce the service life of structures. A crack in a structural member introduces local flexibility that would affect vibration response of the structure. Both the mode shape and frequency change significantly due to the presence of crack. The objective of this paper is to obtain information about the location and depth of transverse open multiple cracks in a rotating cantilever beams. Vibration parameter in the form of mode shape of damaged rotating beam is obtained using finite element simulation. Using fractal dimension of mode shape profile, damage is detected. It is also shown that this method can produce satisfactory results with some limitation based on profile.