A damage identification numerical model based on the sensitivity of orthogonality conditions and least squares techniques

This paper presents a numerical model for damage identification of composite structures. This model is based on the orthogonality conditions sensitivities of the damaged and undamaged structure mode shapes and relies on a discretisation by finite elements. The damage is directly related to the stiffness reduction of the damaged element. A study on the use of eigenvector sensitivities for damage identification and the influence of measurement errors and noise in the modal data is also presented. This model is applied to a laminated rectangular plate, free in space, and the efficiency of the numerical tools used to solve the defined set of equations is discussed. (C) 2000 Civil-Comp Ltd. and Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.