ABSTRACT
Local through-thickness vibration testing is a technique to identify the location and the level of damage existing inside a structural member by measuring the changes of the frequency response received at the structural surface. For further development of the method, it is necessary to study the wave propagation characteristics through cracked concrete. This study simulates the local vibration test conducted on fractured RC beams to evaluate the damage in the concrete beams. Cracking and wave propagation analyses are coupled in the simulation process. The fracture of the RC beams is studied using a form of discrete lattice modeling, which is known as a Rigid-Body-Spring Network. The wave propagation through the beam thickness is analyzed by Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. The validity of the simulation approach is shown by the close agreement between the simulation results and experimental measurements, thereby demonstrating its potential as an effective, non-destructive damage evaluation tool.
