Some Results on Damage Detection Using Variational Approach

The present investigation is focused on the solution of a dynamic inverse problem which is concerned with the assessment of damage in structures by means of measured vibration data. This inverse problem has been presented as an optimization problem which has been solved through the use of a hybrid approach where the conjugate gradient method (CGM) with the adjoint equation, also called variational method, is employed coupled with the Genetic Algorithm (GA) method. Moreover, a general formulation for the application of the variational method is presented which allows the use of any kind of experimental data. The solution for the damage estimation problem has been obtained using synthetic experimental data, and the reported results are concerned with space truss structures modeled through the finite element technique.