Damage detection in stiffened plates by wavelet transform

In this study, numerical analysis was carried out by using the finite element method to construct the first mode shape of damaged stiffened plates, and the damage locations were detected with two-dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. In the experimental analysis, four different damaged stiffened structures were observed. Firstly, each damaged structure was hit with a shaker, and then accelerometers were used to measure the vibration responses. Secondly, the first mode shape of each structure was obtained by using the wavelet packet, and the location of cracks were also determined by two-dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. The results of the numerical analysis and experimental investigation reveal that the proposed method is applicable to detect single crack or multi-cracks of a stiffened structure. The experimental results also show that fewer measurement points are required with the proposed technique in comparison to those presented in previous studies.