In this study, a damage assessment method in which both experimental and numerical techniques are used for beam structures is proposed. The method devised for axial vibrations is modified for transversely vibrating beam structures. The receptance analysis, which is derived for the transverse vibrations of a beam with various end conditions, is used to model the structure including a damage zone. A model for the beam is developed by dividing the system to smaller beam elements representing undamaged portions of the beam. Torsional spring element is used to model a Mode I crack, which is a common failure mode for beam structures, in the simulation of the damaged beam element. Free vibration experiments of composite specimens are performed to validate the model. A parametric study is accomplished to study the effect of damage size and of location on the sensitivity of the proposed method. The method is also verified by finite element analysis. Change in the natural frequencies of the beam due to the change in the size of damage is studied. Experimentally measured natural frequencies of the damaged test specimens are applied to the model developed to locate the damage. A good agreement between the experimental and numerical results is obtained.

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