Structural Damage Detection Using Curvature Mode Difference Curve

Damage detection in civil engineering structures using the dynamic system parameters has become an important area of research. The sensitivity of damage indicator is of great value to structural damage identification. The curvature mode is an excellent parameter in damage detection of structures, while in case that certain curvature mode curve can’t show existence of damage. In this paper, numerical studies are conducted to demonstrate the deficiency of curvature mode to damage detection. Then a new damage indicator called “curvature mode changing rate” (CMCR) is introduced which is processed by numerical differentiation of curvature mode curve. The simulation results show that the new index is superior to curvature mode for structural damage identification, and it is still sensitive to the damaged location in the mode node.