Damage detection in structures using measured frequency response function data

Abstract

Modern engineering structures such as offshore oil platforms, transmission towers, bridges and aircraft frames are regularly monitored and maintained in order to avert catastrophic failure. Despite our best efforts, sporadic failures, which may have disastrous consequences in terms of human life and resources, still occur. It is therefore important to develop techniques which lead to significant improvements in the reliability of the structures. A challenging area of structural dynamics research is concerned with the development and practical implementation of monitoring systems which can identify and quantify damage as it occurs in a structure. The development of a number of techniques that contribute to providing means to detect structural damage is the goal of the work presented in this thesis