Damage detection via closed-form sensitivity matrix of modal kinetic energy change ratio

In this paper, a new damage detection method based on a damage sensitive feature parameter named Modal Kinetic Energy Change Ratio has been proposed. The sensitivity matrix for the damage identification procedure is calculated by making use of the closed-form sensitivity of eigenvalues of the structure. Numerical simulations and experimental tests were carried out on a beam-like structure in order to examine the reliability and feasibility of the proposed method. System Equivalent Reduction Expansion Technique is employed to omit rotational degrees of freedom of the model. It is demonstrated that this method locates and quantifies structural damage(s) with acceptable accuracy. The best advantage of the proposed method comparing to the ones which are based on modal strain energy is that it is not sensitive to mode shape noise and yields favorable results under moderate noise in natural frequencies.