Time-Varying Output-Only Identification of a Cracked Beam

Abstract

In this paper a time-varying identification method is presented, in order to detect the presence of an open crack in a beam with a moving mass travelling on it. The ratio between the considered moving mass and the total mass of the beam is high, thus the identified modal frequencies of the whole structure are time-varying. This situation often occurs when considering the dynamic interaction beetween a train and a bridge and specific identification tools must be used. It is shown that the identification method,…