PRINCIPLE AND APPLICATION OF DAMAGE LOCATING VECTOR METHODS

In this paper, the conditions for the existence of damage locating vectors are proved, the formulae for calculating the characterizing stresses of beams, columns and braces are derived, and the simplified calculation of modal mass-normalization constants of damaged structures is improved. The numerical simulation of damage localization of a spatial steel braced-frame model was carried out. Seven damage patterns, including brace damages and connection damages, were simulated. Hammer impacts and ambient vibration were, respectively, employed as excitations to the structure model. The modal parameters, including frequencies and mode shapes, were obtained using the natural excitation technique and eigensystem realization algorithm. Damage locating vector method was utilized to locate the damaged elements. Error analysis was performed for two damage patterns. It is demonstrated that the damage locating vector method is effective when the damage extent reaches a certain level.