Detecting Damage on Beam-Like Structures Based on Damage Index of Static Displacement

Beams are a common object in engineering mechanics used to study one-dimensional structures, such as bridge spans, towers, and buildings. Therefore, the problem of monitoring the condition and integrity of beams is a great concern to prevent unforeseen defects and accidents. Most existing methods for monitoring the condition of beams use the vibration response because of the change in dynamic parameters of the beam due to damage. The disadvantage of the vibration method is the requirement of continuous collection and complex data analysis. Therefore, this article proposes a simple method of using a damage index based on static responses to identify damage on beams. The results show that static displacement can effectively determine both the location and extent of existing damage on the beam. Therefore, the damage index of static displacement can also be used as one of the prospective indicators to evaluate the condition of beam structures.