Identification of Damage in Truss and Beam Structures Based on Flexibility Matrix

In this work, we propose a numerical strategy to detect damages in truss and beam structures exploiting lowest frequencies and mode shapes that are employed to calculate the flexibility matrix. In particular, for truss structures, the modal strain difference between damaged and healthy structures is used to identify the element characterized by the highest value of strain change, which corresponds to the most likely damaged element in the structure. Conversely, for beam structures, the highest value of modal curvature change is used as an index of element damage. Both procedures are validated using pseudo-experimental data accounting for noise pollution in mode shapes components.