A SIMPLIFIED APPROACH TO THE NUMERICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MODELLING OF THE DYNAMICS OF A CRACKED BEAM

摘要

A numerical model, based on an FE approach, is shown to be valid for producing mode shapes and curvatures which can be used to detect and locate a crack; the method not requiring a full non-linear FE analysis. The results from the model can be used to generate data which can be used for training neural networks. An experimental procedure for simulating cracks in beams or plates, based on a bilinear device, is also presented. The experimental device produces dynamic responses which correlate closely with those from a fatigue crack but does not suffer from the problem of non-stationary behaviour. However, curvatures obtained from experimental data using this device are found to be limited in their ability to highlight the presence of a crack.