Structural damage detection method with model reduction

Structural damage detection analysis is conducted with consideration of incomplete modal information. In the process of structural damage detection, a two-stage method in combination with a model reduction method is employed, in which structural parts that are possibly damaged will be located using force balance method, and the extent of damage will then be evaluated using a global optimization technique. An independent-mode reduction method is proposed to work with the force balance method, which gives better results for damage detection than conventional model reduction methods do. Applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by simulations of a chain model and a large truss structure, respectively.