Damage Identification in 2D Structures Through Static Response

Abstract

The local stiffness reduction produced by cracks change the static and dynamic behavior of the structural elements and, by examining this change, crack position and magnitude can be identified. This paper presents a methodology which aim is the detection, location and quantification of the damage through the values of vertical displacements, produced by static loads. With the purpose of establishing the precision of the results obtained in planar structures, numerical simulations were made, analyzing them with the Finite Element Method. Furthermore, two techniques for the detection and damage location are presented. The first one is related to the displacement variation in a damaged structure in relation to the same structure without damage. The second technique is based on the elastic curvature which is computed by means of the Finite Differences Method. The techniques presented are versatile tools, of easy application at work, for structural damage identification.