Evaluation of Crack Depth in Beams for Known Damage Location Based on Vibration Modes Analysis

The paper presents a method to assess the crack depth in beams for which the damage location is known. Previous researches lead us to a method to identify damage locations in beams, based on a relation providing frequency changes in respect to damage location and depth. Separating the two variables it is possible to find first the damage location, and afterwards to derive the term controlling the severity. Comparing it with values indicating the frequency shift in respect to damage depth, the severity can be assessed. The paper presents a relation reflecting this dependency for any cross-section type, involving the static deflection for the healthy and damaged beam alone; it has a general character, being not influenced by the cross-section shape.