ABSTRACT
Techniques for damage detection based on structural deflection flexibility have received considerable attention due to the following unique features of the flexibility matrix. One is that the flexibility matrix can be estimated from a truncated set of lower frequency modes with sufficient accuracy. And the other is that flexibility matrix at the measurement sensor coordinates can be extracted from the matrices of system realization. This paper is dedicated to develop a new flexibility for damage detection of truss structure. The main idea is that members in truss structure are dominated by axial forces, and axial stress or strain could be a better index than deflection for damage detection. An Axial Strain Flexibility (ASF) is proposed. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. First the ASF is defined and ASF matrix is formulated in terms of translational modes. Second, two damage detection techniques are applied to ASF matrix, and performance of the damage detection techniques with ASF matrix is validated by a numerical example. Finally the paper is concluded.
